Food in Scotland should be laced with vitamin D to stave off multiple sclerosis, experts say (6)

Scotland's food supply should be laced with vitamin D in a bid to cut the high rate of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the sun-deprived region, experts have said.

Scotland has some of the highest MS levels in the world and many experts believe vitamin D deficiency is a contributing factor.
Vitamin D deficiency is caused by a lack of sunlight and for half of the year no one living in Scotland gets enough UBV rays from the the sun on their skin to make adequate levels of the vitamin D, it has been reported.

n addition, many do not eat enough of the foods that contain it, such as oily fish, which has led to international health experts calling for the food supply in the Scotland to be fortified with the vitamin.
Oxford academic Professor George Ebers says the evidence of the link between MS and vitamin D deficiency is so strong it warrants fortifying food with it, the Guardian reported.

Professor Ebers, from the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and his team this month published their findings of a genetic link between MS and an uncommon inability for the body to produce vitamin D.

He told The Guardian: 'Now the question is, can we finally persuade the public health authorities that they should supplement the population?'
There have long been theories that high numbers of people with MS live in areas deprived of sunshine - while low levels of those in countries with year-round sunshine.

Sir Harry Burns: Scotland's chief medical officer said 'broader scientific consensus' was needed
However, the authors of this new report claim it offers strong scientific evidence.
About 10,000 people in Scotland have MS.

Scotland's chief medical officer said this sort of change would only be considered after 'broader scientific consensus'.
Sir Harry Burns told The Guardian: 'It is important to remember that dietary supplements can have harmful as well as positive consequences and recommendations need to be made on the basis of evidential benefit in well conducted randomised studies in large populations.

'Mass medication of the Scottish population without such evidence would be considered irresponsible by the public health community.'
The MS Society in Scotland is championing a campaign launched by a 13-year-old boy whose mother had the disease diagnosed.
Shine on Scotland is teenager Ryan McLaughlin's response to vitamin D deficiency. His mother, Kirsten McLaughlin, is very ill in hospital with MS.

The campaign has seen Ryan meet with Government officials to appeal for vitamin D-fortified food.

The youngsters father, Alan, revealed that the campaign had persuaded Kellogg's to add the vitamin to cereals.


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My own view is:

Wouldn't it just be simpler for people to supplement their diet and try and get out a bit more. I know it is much colder up in Scotland than down south, but a ten minute walk round the block or in a work break to get some rays would be preferable.

What do you think?

I think...if only it were that simple....I know of two couples where in both cases the man has had MS for many years....you wonder why it hits one and not the other...if it was simply down to a lack of vitamin D and absence of sunshine then why is one affected by the disease and not the other, when partners living together have a very similar diet and lifestyle.
It is a terrible disease...J K Rowling gave a huge donation to Edinburgh University to open a research clinic after she lost her Mother to this awful disease...anyway lets hope they can come up with some answers and some new treatments for us Scottish folks.

Unfortunately, its only five minutes to the pub!!

Id say it is closely associated with our poor diet and I do not think we eat as many vegetables as people down South. You also have to consider why those in Scandinavian countries do not have this to the same degree, and I believe its down to their diet as they eat more fish.. We rely too much on fast-food high-fat cholesterol here.. Though I do believe our diet is gradually improving again.. Hopefully research will shed more light on the matter and pr4event or cut down those who have to live with this terrible condition, both sufferers and families/friends.. Thnaks for posting Wow, and hope you had a lovely Christmas Day As well as everyone else..

Hi Crystal. I don't think that the report means that vitamin D deficiency is the cause, or even the main cause. If a vitamin D deficiency causes illnesses (a lack of vitamin D can cause several illnesses), then a diet rich in vitamin D helps aid good health. Also more sunlight without sunscreen is good. What annoyed me about this article was that the researchers don't think people are able to make a decision about a healthy diet. Everyone nowadays knows what is healthy and what is not although of course if they wish to eat an unhealthy diet that is up to them.

Hi, and thanks for the good wishes Yash, I hope you had a good day too. Yes a healthy diet is so important. We have all heard that for some people who are struggling with their money that they claim it is impossible to eat healthily on a budget but I don't agree. It is cheaper to eat healthily than unhealthily, although of course the supermarkets do offer crisps and biscuits at extraordinarily cheap deals.