Effect of vit. D and genes on multiple sclorosis patient

EFFECT OF VIT D AND GENES ON MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENT
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………….…...3
1.1 RISK FACTORS……………...………………………………………………...3
2. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VITAMIN D AND MS ……………………………..…..4
2.1 IN WOMEN……………………….…………………………………………..…4
2.2 IN BLACK PEOPLE…………………………………………………………....5
3. VITAMIN D AND GENE REGULATION…………………………..…………………...5
4. CONCLUSION…………………………………..………………………………………..6
7. REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………7
INTRODUCTION
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the common inflammatory diseases affecting the central nervous system represented by loss of myelin sheath, pathology of axon and progressing neurological dysfunction. However, the exact etiology of multiple sclerosis is unknown; it is evident that environmental factors and genetic components are essential (Ramagopalan, 2008). Charcot in the year 1868 was the first to describe Multiple sclerosis as a chronic frequently debilitating neurological condition affecting young adults (Murray, 2005). In the US, the estimated people suffering from MS are about four lakh, and it is approximately 2 million globally. Most of them are diagnosed in the 25-50 age groups, even though it can occur even in older adults and young children (Halper & Holland, 2010). This auto-immune inflammatory demyelinating condition is clinically represented by relapse and remission in the neurological dysfunctions. A typical relapse is always manifested by optic neuritis, relapse over a week and remission after one month from the relapse time. However, resolution takes place over a period of two to three months (McDonald & Ron, 1999).
Risk factors
The two main risk factors of MS are environmental and genetic, with complex interaction taking place among them; depending on the case, the effects may be protective or deleterious. Currently, hypovitaminosis D is one among the most researched environmental risk factors of MS. Most patients tend to have low vitamin D levels in serum, either insufficient or deficient (Pierrot, 2009).
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VITAMIN D AND MS
A review was conducted to find out the prevalence of multiple sclerosis where Vitamin D supply is lowest. The authors concluded that the prevalence of MS was seen at a greater rate where vitamin D environmental supplies were the lowest. They also stated that vitamin`s active hormonal form 1, 25-(OH)2D [1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D] is a natural immunoregulator having anti-inflammatory function (VanAmerongen et al. 2004).
On reviewing the recent epidemiological studies pertaining to environmental and genetic factors that keep on influencing the susceptibility to MS and its clinical course, it was found that higher prevalence rates of MS is seen in vitamin D deficient patients either through vitamin D deficient foods or other environmental vitamin D sources (Orhun & Dean, 2006).
In women
An epidemiological stud...