Vitamin D During Pregnancy and Risk for Multiple Sclerosis in Offspring

Low vitamin D has been associated with increased risk for multiple sclerosis (MS). Peripartum sunlight and vitamin D have been hypothesized to explain the seasonal birth effect in MS (NEJM JW Neurol Jan 2013 and J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2013; 84:427 and Neurology 2012; 79:2140).

In this prospective case-control study, researchers evaluated serum 25(OH)D samples obtained during pregnancy in mothers within the Finnish Maternity Cohort (FMC) whose offspring were born between 1983 and 1991.

Of the offspring, 193 were diagnosed with MS during follow-up (up to age 27). Of the cases, 173 were matched to 326 controls for region of birth, date of sample collection, date of mother's birth, and date of child's birth. A 20.03 ng/mL higher maternal 2…