Sunshine May Protect Against Multiple Sclerosis

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Newswise — [Skin cancer in people with multiple sclerosis: a record linkage study 2004; 58: 142-4]

Sunshine may protect against the development of multiple sclerosis, suggests a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

The exact causes of MS are unknown, but it becomes more common the further away from the equator people live in both the southern and northern hemispheres.

To test their theory that sunshine may itself be an important factor, the authors analysed data from hospital records and death certificates to assess the prevalence of skin cancer - a proxy for prolonged exposure to sunshine - in the former English health service region of Oxford.

Records spanning over 30 years from 1963 up to 1999 of people with MS and other autoimmune or neurological diseases were included in the study.

The results showed that rates of cancer in general were not especially low among the 5000 people with MS. If anything, they were slightly higher than would be expected, based on comparative figures for the general population.

Cancer rates among the 430,000 patients with other immune related or neurological disease were as would be expected for the general population.

But the prevalence of skin cancers in people with MS was significantly lower than average. This deficit was greater for skin cancers other than melanoma.

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and the one most likely to occur as a result of intense but brief periods of exposure to very hot sun. Other skin cancers are more closely associated with prolonged, continuous exposure to sunshine.

A minimum level of exposure throughout the year might therefore be important in conferring protection, suggest the authors

The body's immune system acts against nerve cells during the development of MS. And the authors conclude that sunshine might protect against the development of MS by beneficially influencing the immune system response, possibly through changes to the production of vitamin D and melatonin, the substance involved in acquiring a tan.

Click here to view the paper in full:
http://press.psprings.co.uk/jech/february/142-144.pdf

For more information please contact:
Linda Millington
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Fax: 020 7383 6403
Email: pressoffice@bma.org.uk

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