Vitamin D – new benefits discovered

Vitamin D seems to prevent relapses of multiple sclerosis, according to a large study by Dr. Ascherio and his colleagues at the Harvard School of Public Health. My previous posts mentioned that a high proportion of migraine sufferers have low vitamin D levels and that low vitamin D levels have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias, and strokes. This latest study of patients with MS indicates that those with higher levels of vitamin D did better than those with lower, even if the lower level was still within normal range. Studies of vitamin D in other conditions also reported similar findings of progressive benefits with increasing levels. Many laboratories consider a level between 30 and 100 to be normal. However, even in the absence of definitive proof of benefit, it is probably prudent to aim for a level of at least 50. Just taking vitamin D, even at doses of 2,000 to 5,000 units a day does not guarantee a good level because many people do not absorb it well. Ideally, you should have your vitamin D level rechecked after taking vitamin D for a few months.