Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system. Victim of lesions, it gradually leads to a sensitive, motor, visual decrease … We do not yet know how to treat it, but we are beginning to understand some elements that explain it, or which make it possible to strengthen its chances of it. protect. The sun is one of them, according to a recent Australian study published in the review Neurologythe results of which confirm the avenues already mentioned before.
The researchers compared the time of exposure to the sun of two groups of people: 332 had declared multiple sclerosis for 7 months (they were aged 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. This could be explained, according to them, by the fact that the sun promotes the synthesis of vitamin D, 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 Sep Ensemble association 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 event of MS, including the immune system, failing. In addition, it is more present in regions of the world where there is less sun, 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, were 62% less likely to develop it than those with the lowest level.
Sources:
- SeP Ensemble Association
- Association Between Time Spent Outdoors and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis, Neurology, December 8, 2021.
Also read:
- Why does the anti-covid vaccine not work in some patients with multiple sclerosis?
- Multiple sclerosis: a promising avenue to prevent the immune system from overreacting
