Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may increase risk of MS in children

The risk of MS increases the farther one lives from the equator, which is consistent with these findings, since vitamin D can be created in the skin when exposed to sunlight.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-03/tjnj-vdd030316.php

Public Release: 7-Mar-2016
Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may increase risk of MS in children
The JAMA Network Journals

Children of mothers with vitamin D deficiency during early pregnancy appeared to be at greater risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) in adulthood, according to an article published online by JAMA Neurology.

While elevated levels of vitamin D have been associated with a decreased risk of MS in adulthood, some previous research also has suggested that vitamin D exposure in utero may be a risk factor for MS in later life.

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The risk of MS as an adult was 90 percent higher in children of mothers who were vitamin-D deficient (25(OH)D levels less than 12.02 ng/mL) compared with the children of mothers who were not vitamin D deficient, according to the results.

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