Vitamin D. Several studies show that high levels of vitamin D in your body may lower your chances of getting multiple sclerosis. The research also suggests that if you have low vitamin D levels and already have MS, you may have higher odds of getting a flare-up.
Vitamins that seem of particular interest to people with MS include vitamin D, the antioxidant vitamins, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12.
Other studies have found no link between vitamin B12 deficiency and MS. If you are a person with MS and your vitamin B12 levels are within the normal range, there's no research evidence suggesting that taking vitamin B12 supplements would benefit you.
But researchers are particularly interested in the role that sunlight (and therefore vitamin D) could play in MS. In 2015 scientists demonstrated a clear link between low vitamin D and MS. They found that people who naturally had lower levels of vitamin D (because of their genetics) were more likely to develop MS.
One study noted young people with MS who took a calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium supplement had a reduced number of relapses.
Multiple sclerosis is caused by your immune system mistakenly attacking the brain and nerves. It's not clear why this happens but it may be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
These data suggested that vitamin B12 increased the level of MBP, which plays vital roles in the myelination process and the appropriate formation of myelin thickness and compactness. Meanwhile, LFB staining showed that vitamin B12 restored myelin by reducing the vacuolar changes in the myelin sheath after TBI.
In many cases, supplementing with vitamin B-12 can reduce the pain associated with neuropathy. More rarely, it can help repair the myelin sheath, depending on the cause of the neuropathy. However, B-12's ability to speed up tissue regeneration and improve nerve function can be helpful for some.
Research shows that the Vitamin D receptor boosts the regeneration of myelin (55). Vitamin D also significantly increases myelination in rats (56). It's best to get your Vitamin D from sunlight, but most people can't get enough, especially during the winter. That's why I take a Vitamin D3 supplement.
Some of the most potent natural therapies to achieve these goals include resveratrol, vitamin D, fish oil, and a healthy diet. Ultimately, a healthy diet without simple carbohydrates is the baseline for health in those with multiple sclerosis.
The cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown. It's considered an immune mediated disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues.
Lifestyle Factors and MS Progression
We know lifestyle factors such as eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, exercising regularly, and taking vitamin D are helpful for our overall health. Some, like exercise, can help with MS symptoms, prevent complications, and possibly be neuroprotective.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, an anti-inflammatory diet should include foods like tomatoes, leafy greens such as spinach and kale, and fruits like strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges. There's some evidence that consuming these foods could be beneficial for MS.
B vitamins are known for their ability to support healthy nervous system function. Vitamins B-1, B-6, and B-12 have been found to be especially beneficial for treating neuropathy. Vitamin B-1, also known as thiamine, helps to reduce pain and inflammation and vitamin B-6 preserves the covering on nerve endings.
“Results of the present study have shown that homocysteine levels, anemia status, and eventually the quality of life of patients with MS can be significantly improved by administration of 1 mg of vitamin B12 monthly and adding rich-food sources of folic acid on their diet,” the researchers wrote.
MS is not directly inherited from parent to child. There's no single gene that causes it. Over 200 genes might affect your chances of getting MS.
Genetic Differences Are a Contributing Cause
There are about 200 genes that each play a small role in increasing your risk of developing MS. And even people with certain predisposing genetic variants may never get MS. In the general population, the risk of developing MS is about 1 in 750 to 1,000.
Disease Course of MS Is Unpredictable
A person with benign MS will have few symptoms or loss of ability after having MS for about 15 years, while most people with MS would be expected to have some degree of disability after that amount of time, particularly if their MS went untreated.