Why sunshine could ease Multiple Sclerosis symptoms

Useful article in the Daily Mail today.
It would be helpful if other readers could comment as my comments never seem to get published.
Key points are that MMP 9's Matrix metallopeptidase 9 are the enzymes that actually damage the mylene sheath and people with low vitamin D status have higher levels of MMP9's
Raising Vitamin D status reduces MMP9 levels so there are fewer to do less damage.
In the UK it takes around 1000iu/daily per 25lbs weight to raise 25(OH)D levels so we have sufficient stored D3 to see us through the winter.
60ng/ml or 150nmol/l is required to enable human breast milk to be vitamin D replete and have sufficient stored D3 to stay replete though the winter.
More MS flares occur in winter than summer.
Vitamin D3 also regulates our immune function. Many MS flares occur as a consequence of other infection (colds and flu) and higher vitamin D status reduces the chances of infections.

If you could also "LIKE" the thread it may encourage Daily Mail to publish more in the same vein.
Remember it was first muted that Vitamin D status is related to MS incidence 60 yrs ago.
It's a sad reflection on the profiteering for big pharma that doctors strive to keep the public vitamin d deficient with scaremongering stories about tanning and sun exposure. We evolved living outdoors without clothing. We should be working on why modern humans are maladapted to their natural environment.

My comment did arrive but there aren't sufficient people "liking" the article or "rating" the comments.

Skin cancer charity tricks 14,000 sun-worshippers into 'buying' tanning cream that 'triples the power of the sun'
I could do with more support in the ratings here as well.

You know what sucks ted. I know a guy who has MS. Sad thing is , he is a med doctor and not open to anything not standard.

I can't understand why anyone with MS does not at least maintain the 25(OH)D that ensures Vitamin D is stored in tissue cells.
I don't think it's controversial to attain and maintain a NATURAL 25(OH)D that human bodies reach a NATURAL equilibrium when living nearly naked mostly outdoors. Life guards stay between 60~80ng/ml. Around 60ng/ml human breast milk is naturally vitamin d replete.
We all know the actual damage to the mylene sheath is done by the enzyme MMP9 and the amount of MMP's in circulation is inversely related to vitamin D status.
Higher vit d fewer MMP9's and less potential damage to mylene sheath.

That is apart from the fact that most people with MS suffer flares in the winter when Vitamin D status is lower and often the flares are triggered by infection, So reducing the number of colds/flu/upper respiratory tract infections will reduce the chance of MS flares and progression. The most common benefit reported from maintaining higher 25(OH)D levels is fewer upper respiratory tract infections. We know the noses of people with higher vit d status have fewer pathogenic bacteria.

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Human bodies are set to produce the antibiotic, anti oxidant, anti inflammatory antinociceptive agents vitamin D3 and Melatonin throughout the day and night. Vitamin D3 is produced by the skin following UVB exposure from sunlight while that same bright sunlight resets the pineal gland to recalibrate circadian rhythm to produce Melatonin, (given also subdued lighting evening and darkness at night) through the night.
The anti-inflammatory actions of both Vit d and Melatonin reduce the level of MMP 9's which are responsible for cleavage of myelin which causes damage to nerves. In the same way reducing the number of knives cuts street knife crime so reducing MMP 9 numbers reduces the amount or rate of nerve damage in MS.
Another theory of MS involves the Epstein Barr virus. As both Vit D3 and Melatonin improve/regulate immune function those with higher better immune status will be less likely to get infected.
Antinociceptive means both Vit d and melatonin affect your sensitivity to pain so the amount of pain you feel will be less, and you'll be better able to deal with pain so use fewer pain medications and require less intensive pain medication.
Much of the damage caused by inflammation occurs through the action of iron that's released from blood cells during inflammatory episodes. The anti oxidant properties of both vitamin D and melatonin mean that you will have better protection against oxidative damage if your vit d melatonin levels are high.
Once of the reasons for the deterioration that occurs as we age is that natural production of both melatonin and vitamin d decline as we get older. Shift working causes premature ageing by reducing our exposure to sunlight during the day and disrupting melatonin secretion at night. Hence the increased risk of MS. (and cancer)