May 8 2013
Summary: It has been long assumed that Hispanics and Africans have a lower rate of MS than Caucasians. However a new study refutes this statement. The study brings forth the notion that a vitamin D deficiency may cause MS. This is common in dark skinned people. Multiple Sclerosis is a degenerative disease which removes the protective coating of central nervous system neurons and causes muscle degeneration and eye problems among other things. It afflicts an estimated 2.1 million people worldwide.The researches scanned a 3.5 million people pool for subjects for patients of MS between 2008-2010. Of these 496 people, by far the highest percentage was black women with 10.4 cases out of 100,000. In terms of african american populations, women are three times more likely to contract ms.The low vitamin d is thought to be because of low vitamin d intake during the winter among darker skinned individuals in northern areas.Many other factors may contribute to MS but this is an important study to say the least.
Connection to Class:
We studied the nervous system in class and how an impulse travels from the brain.I studied ALS for my pathological disease project which is another neuro-degenerative disease which affects motor neurons. Both are similar in the fact that the cause is unknown. Also we talked about homeostatic imbalances and this is hereditary and environmental influence.These diseases are crippling, and any research that may help find a cure is of utmost importance.
Although they may be getting insufficient amounts of Vitamin D, is there any other way to obtain it?
ReplyDeleteWhat other effects does Vitamin D deficiency have on the body?
ReplyDelete@Leo Kelley, yes pills are another way to get vitamin D and fulfill the homeostatic needs of the body.
ReplyDelete@Pietra, Vitamin D defiecency cause a variety of structural problems in the bone. I believe rickets, and scurvy are caused by a defeciency.