[Vitamin D tweets light to genes in multiple sclerosis]

Rev Med Liege. 2012 May-Jun;67(5-6):359-65.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The relationship between sunlight exposure and the incidence of multiple sclerosis and the understanding of immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D triggered, in recent years, a broad range of investigations. Immunological studies performed in vitro and in vivo have demonstrated how tolerogenic vitamin D can be. Epidemiological studies confirmed an increased incidence of multiple sclerosis in vitamin D deficient subjects and signs of increased disease activity in such MS patients. Although small-scale observational studies have suggested a beneficial impact of vitamin D supplementation on the incidence and severity of multiple sclerosis, large scale clinical trials remain warranted to confirm these preliminary results.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Immunomodulation / drug effects
  • Immunomodulation / genetics
  • Immunomodulation / physiology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / diagnosis
  • Multiple Sclerosis / etiology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / genetics*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / prevention & control
  • Prognosis
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Vitamin D / metabolism
  • Vitamin D / pharmacology
  • Vitamin D / physiology*
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / complications
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / diagnosis
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / genetics

Substances

  • Vitamin D