Participants sought: How does Vitamin D supplementation affect your immune system?

Participants are sought for a research study to understand better
how taking a Vitamin D supplement affects your immune cells.

Changes to the immune system after vitamin D supplementation in healthy individuals and people with multiple sclerosis

Vitamin D is a vitamin with roles in calcium-phosphate metabolism and in bone health. It has also been found to regulate cell functions, including those of the immune system. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common disabling neurological conditions among young adults. Low Vitamin D levels are associated with elevated risk of developing MS. It is not currently well understood how Vitamin D affects immune cells in people.

Genetic predisposition to Multiple Sclerosis mapped throughout immune system

There is an extensive overlap of immune cell types and genes 
associated with MS. Figure 1 from the group's paper

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common immune-mediated disorder, with 2.3 million people diagnosed worldwide. A detailed gene map of the illness takes us a step closer to understanding the mystery of how MS develops.

The cause of MS is still unknown, but some studies have indicated that the complex interaction between environmental factors and variations in genes may be what leads to MS risk or susceptibility.

Study of 30,000 Victorians reveals 40% have low vitamin D levels

Veronica Voo is first author on the paper;
she is Dr Mastura Monif's PhD student.

by Tania Ewing

A study of 30,000 Victorians reveals 40% have low vitamin D levels, with serious health consequences.

Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to poor health consequences – from weaker bones to common conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as certain cancers.  In recent years a large body of literature has found links between vitamin D deficiency and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

Now, a landmark study of vitamin D levels in over 30,000 Victorians attending a large Melbourne hospital between 2014 and 2017 found that only 40% of patients had levels of vitamin D that are adequate for good health. Importantly, two-thirds of men failed to have sufficient vitamin D levels.