RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Vitamin D intake and incidence of multiple sclerosis JF Neurology JO Neurology FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins SP 60 OP 65 DO 10.1212/01.WNL.0000101723.79681.38 VO 62 IS 1 A1 Munger, K. L. A1 Zhang, S. M. A1 O’Reilly, E. A1 Hernán, M. A. A1 Olek, M. J. A1 Willett, W. C. A1 Ascherio, A. YR 2004 UL http://n.neurology.org/content/62/1/60.abstract AB Background: A protective effect of vitamin D on risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been proposed, but no prospective studies have addressed this hypothesis. Methods: Dietary vitamin D intake was examined directly in relation to risk of MS in two large cohorts of women: the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS; 92,253 women followed from 1980 to 2000) and Nurses’ Health Study II (NHS II; 95,310 women followed from 1991 to 2001). Diet was assessed at baseline and updated every 4 years thereafter. During the follow-up, 173 cases of MS with onset of symptoms after baseline were confirmed. Results: The pooled age-adjusted relative risk (RR) comparing women in the highest quintile of total vitamin D intake at baseline with those in the lowest was 0.67 (95% CI = 0.40 to 1.12; p for trend = 0.03). Intake of vitamin D from supplements was also inversely associated with risk of MS; the RR comparing women with intake of ≥400 IU/day with women with no supplemental vitamin D intake was 0.59 (95% CI = 0.38 to 0.91; p for trend = 0.006). No association was found between vitamin D from food and MS incidence. Conclusion: These results support a protective effect of vitamin D intake on risk of developing MS.