News Item: Vitamin D may be key in MS rate

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Vitamin D may be key in MS rate Monday, 7 November 2005

Researchers believe that vitamin D deficiency could be the reason why Tasmania has a higher rate of multiple sclerosis sufferers than mainland Australia. Pinpointing why Tasmanians are twice as likely to suffer from the disease as other Australians could help in the search for a cure.About 75 people in every 100,000 have MS in Tasmania, compared to 36 in Newcastle, 30 in Perth, 21 in sub-tropical Queensland and 12 in tropical Queensland.It is thought that many people have a genetic susceptibility to the disease, which is triggered by unknown environmental factors - one of which researchers believe may be a deficiency of vitamin D.The latitudinal impact on MS susceptibility has been documented worldwide, but Australia's MS population is an ideal group to study because of its wide latitude gradient, combined with a population sharing a common health care system.Latest findings from a national study into the latitudinal impact on MS were discussed at a genetics conference in Sydney yesterday.Epidemiologist Robyn Lucas, of the Australian National University in Canberra, said the researchers were studying patients showing the first symptoms of MS before diagnosis and comparing them with a healthy control group. The case-control study involves a detailed interview with the participants, blood tests, magnetic resonance imaging brain scans and even casts of the backs of their hands. "We put some silicon on and when you peel the silicon off, you actually get a cast of all the skin lines on the back of the hand," Dr Lucas explained in an interview. "If you look at that under the microscope you can get an idea of cumulative sun damage over a number of years. "We're interested in looking at as wide a range of environmental effects as we can, and particularly those that vary by latitude." Previous epidemiological research of MS sufferers in Tasmania, which has Australia's highest rates of the auto-immune disease, found a lack of winter sun exposure between the ages of six and 15 seemed to put a person at increased risk of developing the disorder. Scientists also say MS, which affects three times as many women as men, is uncommon in people with deeply pigmented skin. But they are unsure why. MS is the most common neurological disease affecting young Australians. About 16,000 Australians have MS and the rate is increasing by 7 per cent a year.http://www.examiner.com.au/story.asp?id=315266