Multiple Sclerosis Aetiology

The aetiology of multiple sclerosis has been an intensely researched topic for several years. With many studies investigating different environmental and genetic risks, it is clear that multiple sclerosis is a complex multi factorial demyelinating disorder which has affected approximately 2.5 million people worldwide. In recent years, there has been a new area of research in multiple sclerosis which has engaged the interest of many scientists; the relationship between multiple sclerosis and vitamin D. The role of vitamin D in the calcium pathway is fully understood, and recent studies have proposed that vitamin D also plays a role in the immune system as an immune modulator. The understanding of its role still remains unclear however; studies have suggested that vitamin D interferes with the immune responses within the body regulating immune mediators such as T-cells, antigen presenting cells and macrophages. …show more content…
Although the investigations are often too small to have clinical significance, results have shown that in using controlled high levels of vitamin D recurring attacks and symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients have been reduced, posting a potential use as a treatment. As this area of research is recent, many investigations have been inconclusive and invalid, with several conflicting studies in this area of research none have yet to provide valid evidence to prove this correlation between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis. Thus, the answer to the question of whether vitamin D plays a role in the onset and development of multiple sclerosis remains