title: Assessment of evidence for a protective role of vitamin D in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Evidence for a role of vitamin D insufficiency in determining risk in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is supported by studies in both pediatric- and adult-onset patients. The potential role of vitamin D in modulating MS disease activity is an area of active clinical trials research, and the possibility of primary disease prevention with vitamin D supplementation in early life is an emerging concept. With Sir Austin Bradford Hill's criteria as a framework, the present review assesses the evidence for a causal relationship between vitamin D insufficiency and the pathobiology of MS, and discusses rationale for future clinical trials with vitamin D.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. heather.hanwell@gmail.com
authors.forename: Heather E C
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Hanwell
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Banwell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D053098:Familial Hypophosphatemic Rickets / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D