- With Mayo Clinic neurologist
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Dr. Jerry Swanson is a board-certified neurologist at Mayo Clinic and is a professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He has a special interest in headache disorders and medical education.
Dr. Swanson, a Lacon, Ill., native, was appointed to the Mayo Clinic staff in 1982 and works in the Department of Neurology with about 90 other physicians. He formerly chaired the Headache Division in the Neurology Department at Mayo Clinic and works with headache subspecialists around the world. He has published and lectured widely on headache disorders. He also serves as Assistant Dean for Assessment in Mayo Medical School.
"In a manner similar to the printing press, Internet technology enables the unprecedented ability to communicate with the global community about health information," Dr. Swanson says. "There is no doubt that the knowledgeable individual contributes greatly to his or her own health care, and now we can share information much more widely."
"There is much information already available about health care on the Internet. Unfortunately, much of it is not founded on sound principles. It is exciting to be a part of the MayoClinic.com team and contribute to the creation of a reliable and timely health resource."
Dr. Swanson is the neurology editor for "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book" and has reviewed articles for "Mayo Clinic Health Letter" and "Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource." He is also editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic on Headache" book, published in 2004. In 2008 the magazine "Women's Health" named him one of America's Top Doctors for Women.
Definition (1)
- Demyelinating disease: What causes it?
Symptoms (1)
- Multiple sclerosis: Can it cause seizures?
Treatments and drugs (2)
- Acetyl-L-carnitine: Can it relieve MS fatigue?
- Multiple sclerosis treatment: Is combination therapy effective?
Lifestyle and home remedies (1)
- Vitamin D and MS: Is there any connection?
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Question
Vitamin D and MS: Is there any connection?
Is there any proof that vitamin D supplements can prevent MS or keep symptoms of MS from worsening?
Answer
from Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Several high-profile studies have suggested that high levels of vitamin D lower the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), but more research is needed to assess these findings.
When a person has multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks the coating that protects the nerve cells. Initial research suggests that a connection between vitamin D and MS could be tied to the positive effects vitamin D has on the immune system.
The possible link between vitamin D and MS is strengthened by the association between sunlight and the risk of MS. The farther away from the equator a person lives, the higher the risk of MS — suggesting that exposure to sunlight may offer protection from MS. Whether this is related to ultraviolet radiation or because active vitamin D levels increase with sun exposure remains unclear.
Until researchers clarify the possible relationship between vitamin D and MS, there isn't enough evidence to recommend vitamin D as a way to treat or prevent MS. Still, vitamin D remains an important nutrient for overall good health.
The National Academy of Sciences currently recommends 200 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day for adults up to age 50. For adults older than age 50, the recommendation increases to 400 to 600 IU a day. Generally, the upper limit for vitamin D is 2,000 IU a day.
Next questionDemyelinating disease: What causes it?
- Swanson JW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 18, 2008.
- Munger KL, et al. Vitamin D intake and incidence of multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2004;62(1):60-65.
- Munger KL, et al. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and risk of multiple sclerosis. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2006;296(23):2832-2838.
- Brown SJ. The role of vitamin D in multiple sclerosis. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2006;40(6):1158-1161.
- van der Mei IA, et al. Vitamin D levels in people with multiple sclerosis and community controls in Tasmania, Australia. Journal of Neurology. 2007; 254(5):581-590.
- Dietary supplement fact sheet: Vitamin D. Office of Dietary Supplements. National Institutes of Health. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp. Accessed Aug. 8, 2008.
