Chicago - International task force on vD and MS prevention

I am attending a vitamin D task force in Chicago sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS); a truly amazing organisation (but that is another story).

The aim of the meeting is to design a vitamin D primary prevention trial. I believe this is possible. However, we will only make this a reality if we get public health officials on board across the world. 

Vitamin D deficiency is not only a problem for MS, but impacts on several other diseases as well. We need the support of the people with these diseases. We need a broad lobby!

It is my impression that MS'ers don't 'warm to' or 'engage' in research that focuses on prevention strategies. Why? Is it because you don't like the idea that your disease may be preventable? Or are you like all other humans and are mainly focused on the here and now? 

Your world view may be different if you have brothers and sisters or children who are at high risk of developing MS. Would you not want to prevent them going through what you have been? The bad news on receiving the diagnosis? The uncertainty about the future? The realisation that MS is a life-long disease? The realisation that MS is disabling? The side-effects and risks of DMTs? The financial worries that come with chronic disease? Etc? 

Prevention is all about taking responsibility and making a difference. If we have knowledge and are reasonably certain that our knowledge could change behaviour and make a difference to the world then we are morally obliged to act on this knowledge. 

This meeting is about us realising this moral obligation and taking responsibility. So join the lobby and help us Prevent MS!

Other posts on  this blog you may find of interest:

03 May 2011
Vitamin D Supplement Doses and Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in the Range Associated with Cancer Prevention. How safe are high dose Vitamin D3 (vD3) supplements? In this study on over 3600 study participants ~25% of ...

15 Aug 2011
So we are going to need your help on taking basic prevention strategies forward! I am particularly concerned with the trend in young girls with regard to smoking (see previous posts). Any suggestions would be much ...

19 Apr 2011
There is a pressing need to investigate the role of vitamin D and EBV and how they might interact to influence MS risk to identify potential prevention strategies. "At last some integrated thinking to try and link risk ...

04 Jul 2011
Preventing the disease is vital. But we mustn't forget those who already have the disease. Tuesday, July 05 ... No our research is not only focused on prevention. We are involved in a large number of clinical trials including the ...

08 Aug 2011
Personally, I would have preferred to see prevention get a larger sahre of the vote. It is very reassuring that nobody voted for CCSVI. It is clear that CCSVI'ers are less vocal than the non-CCSVI'ers when it comes to votes." ...

09 Jul 2011
I think we need a national vitamin D prevention study to convince public health officials to take up the baton." Epub ahead of print: Grant WB. An estimate of the global reduction in mortality rates through doubling vitamin D ...

23 Sep 2011
Vitamin D Supplement Doses and Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in the Range Associated with Cancer Prevention. How safe are high dose Vitamin D3 (vD3) supplements? In this study on over 3600 study participants ~25% of . ...


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