Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system. Victim of lesions, it gradually causes a sensory, motor and visual decrease… We don’t know how to treat it yet, but we are beginning to understand some elements that explain it, or that allow to strengthen his chances of protecting himself against it. The sun is one of them, according to a recent Australian study published in the review Neurologywhose results come to confirm tracks already mentioned before.
The researchers compared the sun exposure time of two groups of people: 332 had multiple sclerosis declared for 7 months (they were aged from 3 years to 22 years ), 534 were not affected by the disease. They found that those who spent more time outdoors had a lower risk of getting the disease. According to them, this could be explained by the fact that the sun promotes the synthesis of vitamin Da vital element for our bones and the tone of our muscles. It is also crucial for our immune system.
Sun, vitamin D, immune system
Gold, as the association Sep Ensemble reminds us, this is not the first time that the link between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis has been made. Precisely because all the elements mentioned above are involved in the case of MS, including the immune system, failing. In addition, it is more present in regions of the world where there is less sunshine, she recalls.
If vitamin D deficiency alone cannot explain the occurrence of MS, it has been observed several times that those who had the most saw their risks decrease. The association recalls a survey carried out in the United States on soldiers, which had shown an impressive gap: those most exposed to the sun, with a high level of vitamin D, had 62% less chance of developing it than those with the lowest level.
Sources:
- Association MS Together
- Association Between Time Spent Outdoors and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis, Neurology, December 8, 2021.
Read also:
- Why does the anti-covid vaccine not work on some patients with multiple sclerosis?
- Multiple sclerosis: a promising way to prevent the immune system from overreacting
