Neuroprotective Effects of Vitamin D in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

See, stats, and : https : / / www . researchgate . net / publication / 267995956 Neuroprotective Multiple Article DOI : 10 . 4236 / nm . 2011 . 23027 CITATIONS 2 READS 21 3 , including : Margaret Pennsylvania 16 SEE Nancy Bates 47 SEE All . The . All - text and , letting . ABSTRACT Multiple sclerosis (MS) , an auto - immune and neurodegenerative disease with no available cure , is marked by both physical and cognitive disability . In MS , central nervous system white matter lesions , believed to be consequences of inappropriate immune system reactivity , compromise inter - neuronal communication and , depending on the location of damage , beget a variety of symptoms including fatigue , loss of sensation , weakness of limbs , slowed psychomotor proc - essing , and impaired memory . Recently , low vitamin D levels have been identified as a potential risk factor for MS , pre - cipitating research into the immunomodulating properties of this vitamin that allow it to work in both a protective and therapeutic manner . Despite its promise as a disease - modifying agent , however , there is scant research that looks ex - plicitly at vitamin D levels and cognitive symptoms of MS . Given the cognitive enhancing effects of vitamin D in other chronic inflammatory conditions such as chemotherapy - induced cognitive dysfunction and Alzheimer ' s disease , there is urgent need to research whether vitamin D may prove equally beneficial in reducing cognitive sequelae in MS . Guide - lines for future research are suggested .