Posts Tagged ‘glasgow’

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White House Task Force will look at vitamin D deficency in childhood obesity

Sunday, May 16th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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The US First Lady Michelle Obama has recognised the risks of vitamin D deficiency in a official report to the US President Obama and ordered a task force will now tackle the issue head on for the Lets Move campaign!

15 year old Ryan McLaughlin from the ‘Shine on Scotland’ said its really great news and it will help in the fight against vitamin D deficency . Ryan also said:  that back in February this year he posted an amazing story on the First Lady and the emotion behind a new campaign that she was planning called Lets Move.

The First Lady’s story has touched me personally Ryan said ‘when I read the First Lady speak of her emotion that she felt in watching her fathers fight with MS now sadly gone I felt her pain. I have followed it now for months in hope that she would get involved in raising the massive vitamin D deficency problem in the US.

I have been long campaigning in the US to put pressure on the USDA to lift the recommended daily amount of vitamin D and of course raise awarenesss of vitamin D and the link with MS using social websites facebook and twitter. I watch for the latest news hoping for an announcement and when it came this week I was over the moon.

Now I hope to hear the USDA announce much awaited new RDA figures very shortly, it will help in my campaign for vitamin D for every Scottish child in the aim of preventing future cases of Multiple Sclerosis in Scotland.

The First Lady Michelle Obama and the US Government are taking this very seriously indeed and investing a $1 billion a year in federal funding to this campaign, in such financially hard times its a very big message they want action and results.

It’s a brilliant campaign and it will have a roll on effect for other diseases such as MS and I am sure that with amazing news like this hopefully it will highlight the problem in the UK and hope that a new focus will be placed on funding of further research studies and clinical trials into vitamin D.

In a recent study it was again show that vitamin D can help lessen symptoms in people with MS so its so even more important to me now that I get action taken to help my mum !

I am proud to say that the Scottish Government has took the problem seriously for many months and with a little more work i’ll continue to campaign and raise awareness for MS so we can get even more Governments to look at it. My campaign has managed to lead to some movement already from the Governments in Wales and Ireland earlier this year!

The Scottish Summit on vitamin D will happen in September, planning is underway by the great team at MS Society Scotland and the Scottish Government.

Please have a look at the amazing Lets Move campaign website and help spread the word by following link below

http://www.letsmove.gov/

Vitamin D could save NHS £17.6 Billion a year!

Sunday, April 25th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
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A Statement From Cancer Research UK

The Government’s view:

Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director, kicked off the session. He acknowledged that the UK spends less on healthcare as a whole than many other European countries. On top of this, we spend proportionally less on cancer care than many of our EU counterparts.

According to the latest figures, around 5 per cent of the NHS spend is on cancer, equating to around £76 per head each year in England…

Clearly there is a need to increase spend in the NHS on cancer – particularly when the demographics and new advances in cancer drugs are taken into account. As the population ages, cancer is getting more common – Professor Richards commented that the incidence of the disease is increasing at a rate of around 1.5 per cent each year. This means there will inevitably be more people needing cancer care services.

And with great strides in cancer research, many new drugs and diagnostic tests are coming through – offering new hope to people touched by cancer – but at a price. On top of this, the NHS needs to consider the increasing cost of follow up care for cancer survivors (’survivorship care’) – as more and more people survive cancer.

So cancer care costs are certain to increase in the future, and these will need to be met through boosting spending and efficiency in the NHS.

Compare the £76 per head spent on Cancer alone by the NHS to the cost of effective supplementation with Vitamin D3 – approximately £10 per head, per annum.

Now factor in Diabetes:

The NHS is spending £1m an hour, 10% of its yearly budget, treating diabetes and its complications, according to a new report.

Despite advances in detection and treatment, incidence of the disease – which causes heart attacks, stokes and blindness – is spiralling.

GPs are still missing telltale symptoms which mean the disease may remain undetected for many years until irreversible damage has been done, said campaigning charity Diabetes UK.

Some 2.3million people in the UK are already diagnosed but the charity estimated the number of diagnosed and “hidden” diabetics will top 4million by 2025.

The report also revealed one in 10 people in hospital in the UK have diabetes and 60% of inpatients with diabetes have been admitted as emergencies. The total cost to the NHS equates to £9bn-a-year.

Source: The Guardian.

This is another £140 per head of the UK population on diabetes…

Now factor in heart disease… allergies… influenza treatment and deaths… parkinsons… multiple sclerosis…

How about depression? – another £140 per head UK population per annum. from the estimated cost in 2000:

The total cost of adult depression was estimated at over £9 billion

Source: Imperial College

So we can spend £10 per year on D3 supplements per head of the UK population and reduce NHS spending by say 75% of these amounts (conservatively) – meaning a saving of £271 per head per annum on Cancer, Diabetes and Depression alone. Cancer, diabetes and depression and Schizophrenia are pretty much unknown at the equator.

This amounts to a saving to the NHS potentially of £17.6 billion per annum at a cost of around £650 million for appropriate D3 supplementation and testing… that’s quite a sum.

Are you getting the picture as to why the Pharma industry is deliberately overplaying the dangers of Vitamin D supplementation? They can’t patent Vitamin D and they stand to stand to lose an awful lot of money if people are healthy.

Shine on Scotland campaign

Glasgow schoolboy Ryan Mclaughlin has been campaigning for over a year and making his voice heard loud and been seen worldwide, fighting for vitamin D supplementation or the fortification of milk or bread as it could save 2000 people from the misery of MS in Scotland over 10 years and it could save the UK economy £4 Billion for MS alone !

Ryan said ‘I am so pleased to hear that Cancer Research UK have now compiled financial figures for the UK in relation to savings from a national supplementation program of vitamin D.

I constantly campaign for vitamin D for MS via my website. I also try and publicise other diseases like Cancer and

only aware that we need to get the correct message out to the public in relation to sun safety and the results and risks for disease like MS and Cancer.

MS is a truly terrible disease sadly with no cure in sight and causing untold misery for those with the disease but also the families often young children who become carers like myself .I completely recognise that Cancer kills every day in the UK, we must work together to get the right public message message across to the UK public.

Recent studies in Australia have shown that the skin cancer message promoted in the 1960’s called ‘The Slip Slap Slop campaign‘ has possibly contributed to rising figures of MS in OZ despite the abundant sunshine they have’ .

The same outcome is also being seen in the rising rates of MS in countries that encourage covering up for religious reasons and are now seeing MS figures rising steeply – so we must get the correct safety message out to the public !

Nobody wants to pay for a large scale clinical trial not even the Government, firstly we will wait almost 20 years for get real results for MS due to the fact that it strikes in the 20’s and 30’s, secondly there is no profit in it for the big drug companies – who are the usual funders of such expensive trials.

Its is so cheap and safe to provide it that I believe that we should just get on with it and I am not alone so do the best scientists a country has to try it and I believe that Scotland should do it as we have the worst rates of MS in the world and it will help with general health its a winner !

I am sure if the drug companies could make a profit from it they would be at the front of the line fighting for VITAMIN D and promoting its benefits to the world!

I’m trying to get the UK politicians to realise we need different thinking and get them on board to tackle such a big issue.

Vitamin D has the potential to save not only life’s, but untold daily suffering and pain as well as saving the UK billions!

Just 1p a day per child is all it would cost to provide it to every child and pregnant mother – I believe we should invest in our children now and I’m trying hard to sell that to the political parties!

“We are the future of this country and all we ask is that you protect us from a serious disease as we have a right to live a full life without the fear of MS’

It is truly time to act on this and I believe the all UK political parties will recognise the issue and act and get behind me with for the people.

Stars are all coming out for Tiger

Sunday, March 7th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Glasgow’s top stars are to appear on stage at a special benefit night for one of the city’s best-loved entertainers.

Pop stars such as Marti Pellow, Midge Ure and Hue and Cry will appear on the bill at the Pavilion theatre in Tribute To Tiger Tim.

All proceeds will go to a special benefit fund to send veteran DJ Tim Stevens, who is battling multiple sclerosis, to Poland for radical new treatment.

Also on the bill will be Tony Roper and Gerard Kelly, who will appear as Francie and Josie, and Tam Cowan.

The glittering event, on Saturday, May 15, promises to be one of the best variety shows in the theatre’s history.

Pavilion boss Iain Gordon said: “There are few people as popular in Glasgow as Tim Stevens.

“When I heard that Tim was having to raise £9,000 to pay for his treatment I figured it shouldn’t be down to him to pay this sort of money out of his own pocket, so I offered up the theatre for a special show.

“It really makes so much sense. Tim once starred here in panto, and as a radio presenter and charity worker he’s given so much to the city.

“It’s fantastic that our top performers are prepared to recognise that. And I’m sure the public will want to enjoy the night and show their appreciation for all that Tim has done for them.”

Tim and his wife Caroline will attend the event, being organised by Wet Wet Wet drummer Tommy Cunningham.

Ex-Radio Clyde DJ Paul Coia will host the event and several other top Clyde DJs will make an appearance.

Tommy said: “Tim Stevens is a man of the people. He’s been a great broadcaster and communicator but, more importantly, he’s a great bloke.

“When I left the band, Tim was one of the first people to call and offer support.”

The evening will also feature filmed messages of support for Tim and show his career highlights.

The finale will feature all the performers on stage for a rendition of the Beatles classic, With A Little Help From My Friends.

TIMES FILE

Tiger Tim’s MS was first diagnosed in the late 1980s and his condition has steadily deteriorated and he now uses a wheelchair.

However, in recent months new hope for MS sufferers has emerged with a surgical procedure called ‘the liberation procedure’.

Tim’s wife Caroline said: “I heard about this treatment from family in Canada and since then we’ve been tracking down more information from Italy, America and Poland before deciding to go ahead. From what we’ve discovered, the results achieved in Poland seem to be incredible.”

The surgery is based on the theory that MS is caused by narrowed veins.

However, there are no guarantees that it will cure Tim. But Tim, 58, who has tried almost every possible ‘cure’ for MS over the years, is optimistic.

He said: “I hope to have some degree of success. But what I want most is to be able to offer some degree of hope to the other 80,000 MS sufferers in Scotland.”

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/editor-s-picks-ignore/stars-are-all-coming-out-for-tiger-1.1011343

Schoolboy’s petition prompts move on MS link to vitamin D

Saturday, February 13th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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ryantimesonline

An international conference is to be held in Scotland to discuss the health effects of vitamin D — thanks to the efforts of a 14-year-old schoolboy.

Ryan McLaughlin, from Glasgow, petitioned the Scottish Parliament questioning possible links between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis after discovering that the disease — from which his mother suffers — could be prevalent in Scotland because of vitamin D deficiency caused by a lack of sunlight.

The petition called on ministers to produce guidelines on vitamin D supplements for children and pregnant women, and launch an awareness campaign. As a result of his efforts, the Scottish government recognised “an urgent need” to provide information to health professionals and mothers, and is to launch a campaign.

Ministers also agreed to host a conference on April 27 to discuss the role of vitamin D. The event, to take place in Glasgow, will be opened by Nicola Sturgeon, the Health Secretary. Leading researchers into links between vitamin D deficiency and multiple sclerosis are expected to attend.

Yesterday, as the Public Petitions Committee agreed to close Ryan’s petition, members congratulated him for his achievement. Bill Butler, Ryan’s local MSP, hailed the schoolboy’s effort, saying that “a very great deal of progress” had been made.

The Glasgow Anniesland representative praised the way “Ryan and the McLaughlin family have persuaded the government; and the government has listened to the very sensible suggestions contained in the petition.

“The government has agreed to a co-ordinated programme of action with NHS Scotland to produce guidance on vitamin D, to educate women on its importance, to consider different messages for different groups of people, and to ensure that health professionals are giving correct and consistent advice to pregnant women and new mothers. Not only should the McLaughlin family be congratulated, but also the government for listening.”

He described that as a significant success. An image of Ryan is now featured on promotional literature for the petitions committee. Speaking about the campaign, Ryan said: “After an amazing year in raising both vitamin D and MS awareness, I now have the commitments that I wanted from the Scottish government.

“I applaud the positive action taken by the Scottish government and the support from Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Shona Robison, Health and Sports Minister.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish government said: “We’re keen to learn all we can about any possible links between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis and are keeping a very close eye on all the emerging evidence.”

• Breast cancer is diagnosed more often in the spring and autumn, and less often in the summer, leading researchers to suggest that its season-ality may be connected to vitamin D deficiency. Researchers at the University of South Carolina, who examined 2,921,714 breast cancer cases, also found that the seasonality was increasingly prominent the further away from the equator that the women lived. This implies that lack of sunshine, and therefore vitamin D, was a factor.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article7021318.ece

Success at Parliament for schoolboy campaigner

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Story by STV news

The Scottish Govenrment has made a series of key pledges relating to MS and vitamin D, following a petition by Ryan McLaughlin.

A schoolboy who set out to raise awareness of the medical condition suffered by his mother has spoken of his pride in securing a number of key pledges from the Scottish Government.

Ryan McLaughlin went to Holyrood’s Public Petition Committee last year to raise the issue of links between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis.

The 14-year-old’s petition called on ministers to produce new guidelines on vitamin D supplements for children and pregnant women, along with an awareness campaign about the issue.

The Scottish Government has now agreed to support and host a summit in April on the role of vitamin D. New guidance on supplements will also now be published. and to produce the guidance on supplements.

Ryan took up the cause a year ago after watching his mother Kirsten suffering the incurable disease. On Tuesday, the committee agreed to close his petition.

Ryan said: “After an amazing year in raising both vitamin D and MS awareness, I now have the commitments that I wanted from the Scottish Government.

“I applaud the positive action taken by the Scottish Government and the support from Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Shona Robison, Health and Sports Minister.”

Ryan’s local MSP Bill Butler hailed the campaigning schoolboy’s achievement, saying “a very great deal of progress” has been made.

The Glasgow Anniesland politician hailed the way “Ryan and the McLaughlin family have persuaded the Government and the Government has listened to the very sensible suggestions contained in the petition”.

He said: “The Government has agreed to a co-ordinated programme of action with NHS Scotland to produce guidance on vitamin D, to educate women on its importance, to consider different messages for different groups of people and to ensure that health professionals are giving correct and consistent advice to pregnant women and new mothers in relation to vitamin D.”

He described that as a “significant success”, adding: “It’s people listening to what is a very sensible set of suggestions from someone whose personal circumstances have convinced him that there is need for reform here.

“It’s a success story.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “We’re keen to learn all we can about any possible links between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis and are keeping a very close eye on all the emerging evidence.”

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/156458-success-at-parliament-for-schoolboy-campaigner/

Ryan Mclaughlin will take the plunge for Glasgow MS Charity

Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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big zip

14 year old Ryan McLaughlin will do a Zip slide from Forth Road bridge to raise money for Glasgow MS Charity!

Ryan McLaughlin from the Shine on Scotland campaign has offered his support and help to the Glasgow based charity Revive MS Support. Ryan McLaughlin will be taking part in ‘Revive MS support’s ” zip line event and he is gathering people from all over Scotland to help him.

Ryan said – I’ve been working very hard on the campaign for the prevention of MS with vitamin D that I just haven’t had any free time to do anything lately for Revive MS support, but when my mum had  a big relapse a couple of weeks ago Revive MS support was right there for us offering support and treatments.

I know its very important that I don’t forget this amazing charity that looks after my mum and i am honored to help, they have been there for our family right from the day she was diagnosed and I can not and will not let them down.

I have asked all the people on my Facebook  group to help me and I’m proud to say that I’ve now got 14 people that offered to come along do the zip slide and raise at least £100 each which will go towards my target of raising £1500.

A lovely couple who have followed my campaign and have became online friends with my mum have even offered to come all the way from the Isle of Man and take part because they have been so inspired by what the ‘Shine on Scotland’ campaign has achieved in raising awareness of MS.

http://www.revivescotland.org.uk/get-involved/26-adrenaline-events/276-davidrevivemssupportorguk.html

People born in April most at risk of MS

Monday, January 4th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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New research suggests a link between a lack of sunlight and the disease

By Mark Macaskill

Babies born in April face the highest risk of suffering from multiple sclerosis in later life, according to a ground-breaking study that suggests pregnant mothers’ lack of exposure to sunlight may be to blame.

Scientists found mothers who were pregnant during the autumn and winter were most likely to give birth to those who would suffer from the debilitating neurological disease.

The researchers, based at Glasgow university and the city’s Southern General Hospital, believe the spike in cases among children born in the spring may be due to mothers being exposed to less sunshine at a vital stage in their unborn babies’ development.

Vitamin D, which is largely gained through sunlight and food, is known to regulate a gene that can predispose individuals to MS. If the gene is passed on to the unborn child, without being regulated by a sufficient amount of vitamin D, it could “hard wire” them to develop the disease in later life.

The new study, published in the European Journal of Neurology, is the biggest yet carried out in Scotland, which has the highest rate of MS in the world.

MS affects about 85,000 people in the UK and 10,500 in Scotland. While the cause is not known, experts believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors are responsible for the condition.

The Glasgow researchers examined data on about 1,300 MS patients born in the west of Scotland between 1922 and 1992. They found that about 400 people born in March, April and May went on to develop MS, 22% higher than expected. Almost half of all male and a quarter of female sufferers were born in April.

By comparison, there were about 16% fewer MS births in the autumn months. Those born in November had the lowest incidence of the disease.

Dr Colin O’Leary of the institute of neurological sciences at the Southern General and co-author of the study, said several theories about the condition were being explored.

“It’s a very interesting observation and springtime seems to be a period of relatively high risk,” he said.

“Seasonal risk may be a reflection of adverse events that occurred at the time of birth, in utero in the preceding nine months, or during the months following birth, when the central nervous system continues to undergo rapid development.

“There could be an association between reduced sun exposure and vitamin D levels.” O’Leary now plans to carry out a UK-wide study with scientists in Oxford.

Professor George Ebers, from Oxford university’s department of clinical neurology at the John Radcliffe Hospital, said: “The difference [in developing MS in Scotland] between being born in April versus November is an astounding 50%. This is real, there’s no doubt of a seasonal link. There are different theories, but I think the April excess of births could be linked to a sunlight deficiency.

“The focus is on trying to prove what the environmental effect is and, pending conclusive demonstration of that effect, some people might view it as prudent to conceive at certain times of the year to lower their child’s MS risk if there is a history of the disease in the family.”

Ryan McLaughlin, 14, from Glasgow, whose mother has MS, launched a campaign for all pregnant women and young children in Scotland to be given Vitamin D supplements.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish government, said: “Much of the evidence of a link between vitamin D and MS is still at a very early stage. We will continue to review all well-conducted research across the world. If the recommendations on vitamin D change we’ll make the appropriate arrangements.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6973890.ece

Ryan Mclaughlin launches ‘Fortify Scotland’s school milk’ campaign

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Ryan McLaughlin launches ‘Fortify Scotland’s school milk’ campaign

14 year old Ryan McLaughlin of the Shine on Scotland campaign has launched a new social networking campaign to gain public support for his Idea of adding vitamin D to all school milk in Scotland. The 14 year old campaigner believes that vitamin D is so important to improving the health of scottish kids and wants to ascertain how many parents agree with him, using the social platform Facebook.

Ryan is asking scottish parents to join the group and have their say on the subject.

Figures compiled by Oxford University for a national supplementation program of vitamin D in scotland suggest 2000 cases of MS could be prevented over the next 10 years and save the UK economy £4 billion over 25 years.

The World Health Organisation have said that Scotland should start a national supplementation program.

The campaigner says ‘much work still has to be done to get the RDA of vitamin D raised significantly and I will work with the Scottish Government, SACN and the FSA to get that done, but I am positive that fortifying school milk with vitamin D offers the best solution to offering protection to all kids in Scotland’

I am proud to say that the Scottish Government have been amazing in supporting my goals, they have really listened and acted on the current evidence in support of vitamin D, as more evidence is put in place I believe that the case for fortification of school milk will increase, the Scottish government have not ruled out my proposal for fortified school milk they have said “Following advice from the FSA Scotland, the Scottish Government believes that it would not be appropriate to introduce fortified milk (or other fortified drinks) at school until such time as the evidence base is more conclusive about the impact on the population.

However this was said before new research released by the scottish government and the announcement that NHS Scotland said there was now an ‘urgent need to educate women and that all pregnant mothers and all children up to the age of 4 should be taking vitamin D everyday’ .

Now that BUPA have said that they believe vitamin D could prevent cancer and Israel announced all 3% milk is to be fortified I think we need to ask the Scottish Government to look at this again as the evidence is certainly more conclusive and it can only have a healthy impact on the population .

We are now aware that it will cost  £2.7 million if every pregnant mother and child takes up the Health Start vitamin’s on offer but what would it cost to fortify the school milk, I think some political will and some help with financial costs to the dairies could see this happen sooner rather than later.

Almost all milk in the US is fortified with vitamin D, Israel has just decided to fortify all 3% milk and we have heard rumors that both France and Ireland are also considering such a move.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=150104079977&ref=nf

Scotland must fortify school milk!

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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When 14 year old Ryan Mclaughlin started his Shine on Scotland campaign he had set a goal to get vitamin D into our school milk, a simple idea to protect every child in scotland from Multiple Sclerosis,  but he quickly became aware that far more diseases would benefit from vitamin D supplementation not just MS.

Now the countries largest private health care provider BUPA agree’s and says we should all be taking between 1,500 to 2,000 IUs per day to beat cancer. This is 5 times the current UK RDA and exactly what Ryan has campaigned tirelessly for almost 9 months.

Dr Virginia Warren, assistant medical director for Bupa, commented: “There has been a lot of research over the last few years about the health benefits of taking a vitamin D supplement. Based on this evidence, we would recommend taking between 37.5 and 50 micrograms of vitamin D on a daily basis to help reduce your risk of certain cancers. Spending time outside in summer will also increase your vitamin D levels, but is a risk for skin cancer.

“Ensuring you get enough vitamin D is a simple and effective way to reduce your risk of developing certain cancers. Alongside this, it’s important to ensure you eat a healthy balanced diet, exercise regularly, only drink in moderation and do not smoke.

It was again reinforced today when the Israeli Health Ministry announced that all 3% milk is to be fortified with vitamin D in the next 3 months and Ryan McLaughlin wants the Scottish Government to look to follow suit.

Last week on a STV news interview with Ryan McLaughlin in realtion to his win for vitamin d campaign he said ‘that fortification of school milk was still at the top of his priorities’ as he still thinks its the best way to protect future generations of Scots from many diseases not just MS, this announcement by the Israeli Government only goes to further back his case and show that it can be done on a national basis and with the worst health record in western world and the highest rates of MS in the world – Scotland must take the lead.

Dr Sareeram Ramagopalan of Oxford University and Ryan’ family all gave evidence at the Scottish Parliaments petitions committee back in June and told the committee that Israel was looking at fortification of both Milk and flour and we heard that France was also looking at it, now its been confirmed in Israel we need to really start considering moving towards fortification of the school milk program now in scotland.

There are many problems associated with just offering supplementation, simply try getting a child to take a supplement every day for their young life seems doomed for failure, Ryan says he has forgotten a few times to take his and he is running the vitamin D camapign !

How many adults get a course of antibiotics which state finish the course and don’t.  Ryan say’s ‘I am sure almost every adult can say that take them till they feel better and the rest is left in a medical cabinet’.

Furthermore do we really want kids popping tablets everyday ?

Can we ask our teachers to dish out supplements he doesnt think so!

We would need to ask the questions from the Education Dept, teachers and of course get the teachers unions to agree to it, teachers have a big work load already, Ryan points out that many parents will be able to relate to the following point ! How many times as a parent have you been called home and had to take a day off work when a paracetamol would sorted a sore head or a slightly high temperature and the child could have stayed in school getting educated – It would all take too long, too many problems to overcome.

We could spend millions of pounds trying to educate parents and expectant mothers to take vitamin D supplements everyday, but  I believe we should lead from the front from the start , we owe it to the kids and we must protect each and every child in Scotland.

If parents don’t want it for their kids – let them simply opt out !

Ryan believes we need to think much much bigger!  He think we should educate parents to the idea of  the benefits of vitamin D everyday and proposing putting vitamin D into the school milk program so kids get it every day, start debating it with the public and informing parents immediately !

Vitamin D boosts your immune system to help fights off cold and bugs and it would improve the school attendence records on wasted days of school due to simple sniffles, as well as save parents the loss of earnings by taking time off work with sick kids that could be in school learning.

Add his very valid points to the figures compiled for national supplementation of vitamin D in Scotland in relation to just MS alone and you have very good case – Scientists believe it could prevent 2000 cases over 10 years in Scotland alone and could save the UK economy some £4.5 billion surely children’s health must be the priority and a penny onto the cost of a pint of milk is well justified and we should start talking to the dairies immediately !

Vitamin D – the missing link for multiple sclerosis sufferers

Monday, November 23rd, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Vitamin D – the missing link for multiple sclerosis sufferers

By Hilary Freeman

Sunlight provides Vitamin D – but is weaker in northern countries like Iceland.

Scientists have uncovered increasing evidence of the significance of Vitamin D in the development of multiple sclerosis. Now, Australian researchers have found that Vitamin D may actually reduce its symptoms.

Professor Bruce Taylor, a principal research fellow at the Menzies Institute in Hobart, studied 145 patients in southern Tasmania and tracked their seasonal susceptibility to the disease. He looked at how Vitamin D levels influenced their risk of having an attack of MS.

‘We found that the higher your Vitamin D level, the lower your chance of relapse, and for each ten nanomole [a standard measure of concentration of Vitamin D in the blood] increase in Vitamin D, you can reduce your risk of having an attack of MS by about ten per cent. Doubling your Vitamin D will reduce your risk by up to 50 per cent – a major result.’

Helen Yates, the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre’s chief executive, says: ‘It has long been believed that Vitamin D has a role to play in the risk of developing MS but this new research opens up the strong possibility that this vitamin could impact on relapse rates.’

The MS Society’s research communications officer, Dr Susan Kohlhaas, says: ‘These results are very early-stage and need to be reviewed and validated before we draw any firm conclusions.’

It has been known for many years that the further you live from the Equator, the more likely you are to develop MS. For example, Malaysia has hardly any sufferers but in Scotland and Scandinavia MS is relatively common.

It is believed this is due to a shortage of Vitamin D; countries far from the Equator, such as those in Northern Europe, enjoy less sunshine, the main source of Vitamin D.

Research has shown that babies born in May – who developed in the womb during the Vitamin D-scarce winter months – are the most likely to get MS in later life, while those born in November are at much lower risk.

Another study this year found evidence that Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and infancy could increase a child’s risk of developing MS in later life. The researchers concluded that taking Vitamin D supplements during these times could reduce the risk, although this has yet to be proven.

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