According to a recent study carried out across seven million people evidence was found that suggests keeping up your levels of vitamin D could help to prevent people developing multiple sclerosis (MS).  The study revealed that people with high levels of vitamin D in their blood stream were around 62% less likely to develop MS.  This was noted predominantly in white skinned people and may explain why there is an increase in cases the further from the equator people live.  As sunlight is weaker the further away from the equator you get, and sunlight is required to produce vitamin D there could be a direct correlation.  More tests need to be done however to confirm these findings.

MS is a disease that attacks the central nervous system.  Multiple Sclerosis means multiple scarring and refers to the damage caused to the material called Myelin that protects the brain and spinal fluid.  This causes a breakdown in communication between the nerve cells and the brain which can lead to cognitive problems, vision disturbance, balance and co-ordination issues, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness.

There is no known cause for MS and there are several theories as to why it occurs ranging from environmental factors to a virus.  It affects people generally between the age of 20 and 40 and is more common in women than men. 

Vitamin D can be supplemented or found in foods such as diary, fortified cereals and fish.