THE ROLE OF VITAMIN D IN THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: SUPPLEMENTATION AND PREVENTIVE AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1594872424097

• Palavras-chave: Vitamin D, Multiple Sclerosis, immunomodulation, autoimmunity

• Keywords: Vitamin D, Multiple Sclerosis, immunomodulation, autoimmunity

• Abstract:

  Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is a neuroinflammatory disease that can manifest itself in different stages and clinical patterns. There is a growing prevalence worldwide, which is the subject of numerous health studies, and the incidence has been associated with low levels of vitamin D, an important metabolite due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant role, which can contribute to the management and prevention of MS. Objective: To analyze the effects of vitamin D on the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis due to its immunomodulatory potential. Methodology: A bibliographic search was carried out on the PubMed and Virtual Health Library platforms and, using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 18 articles were selected to support this systematic literature review. Results: This study highlighted the strong association between multiple sclerosis recurrence and decreased serum vitamin D levels, linking the pathophysiology of the disease to the effects of this vitamin on the immune system. These factors suggest that supplementation can be seen as a viable strategy for the prevention and treatment of the disease. Final considerations: The review described associates vitamin D hypovitaminosis with a greater susceptibility to MS, but it concludes that more studies and tests are needed to prove the effectiveness of supplementation