b'Medicine & ResearchTThheeLLiinnkkBBeettwweeeennVViittaammiinnDDaannddMMuullttiipplleeSScclleerroossiissVitamin D deciency should be considered a modiable risk factor for MSBy Ellen Whipple, Pharm.D. and Nancy Nguyen, P4 Pharm.D. Candidate,University of Georgia College of PharmacyVitamin D is most commonly associated immunologic cells are all capable of synthesizingwith calcium and the sun, it has also been linked the active vitamin D metabolite. The active,to the onset and severity of multiple sclerosis. hormone-like form of vitamin D can regulateVitamin D is one of the four fat-soluble vitamins, the innate and adaptive immune responses.along with vitamins A, E, and K. Like other As a result, a deciency in vitamin D is linked tovitamins, vitamin D is not naturally produced increased autoimmunity as well as increasedby the body and must be supplemented. The susceptibility to infection.main sources of vitamin D are sunlight, diet, As a result of the role of vitamin D in immuneand vitamin supplements. health,notonlyhasvitaminDdeciencyTwo forms of vitamin D are used by the been linked to osteoporosis, but it has alsobody: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin been linked to other diseases such as cancers,D3 (cholecalciferol). The plant form of vitamin infectious diseases, and autoimmune conditionsD is called vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and such as MS.vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is the form naturally What is the Link Between Vitamin Dproduced in the skin with sunlight exposure. and MS? Foods rich in vitamin D include fatty sh such A common source of vitamin D productionas salmon and mackerel, cod liver oil, egg is sunlight exposure. Epidemiologic studiesyolk, and mushrooms. Milk is considered a have found the prevalence of MS to be greaterpoor source of vitamin D, but is commonly in regions of higher altitude where sunlight isfortied with vitamin D. Vitamin D can also be of lower intensity than in lower latitudes. Otherfound in other fortied foods such as cereal, studiesfoundincreasedbodyexposuretoorange juice, and cheese. sunlight, and hence a decreased susceptibilityWhat is the Role of Vitamin D to vitamin D deficiency, is also linked to ain the Body?decreased risk of MS especially if the sunVitamin D is most notable for the part it plays exposureoccurredduringchildhoodandin bone health, but it also has an important role adolescence.in immune function. The vitamin D receptor A large case-control study of 7 million U.S.is expressed on the immune cells (B cells, T militarypersonnelfoundthatamongcells, and antigen-presenting cells) and these Caucasians, there was a 41 percent decreasemsfocusmagazine.org 22'