Ask a Neurologist
17.03.2009 - vitamin D
- Question:
Hello, my mother has been afflicted with MS for over two decades now. Her neurologist recently took her off Betaseron injections (which she has been taking for many years now), and put her on Vitamin D.
I am doing a science fair project on MS treatment for Grade 12 Biology, and I would like your perspective on her neurologist’s decision. If possible, can you tell me how vitamin will help her biologically (with regards to MS and the rest of the body) because all I’ve been hearing is "there have been studies suggesting vitamin D can treat MS patients", but I want to know HOW.
Thank you so much!
- Reply:
As you are saying, it has been suggested that Vitamin D may positively influence multiple sclerosis if given as an adjunct to a registered therapy (Namaka M, 2008) such as Betaferon/Betaseron, but the efficacy is still unclear.
The effect of vitamin D on the immune system is not known, but it has most probably an immunological inhibiting effect on T-lymphocytes in immunological diseases such as MS. You could look for papers on this subject written by for example Prof R.M.M. Hupperts, neurologist at the
- Consultant:
- The MS-Gateway Consultation Team