The research - published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical
Immunology – shows how UV (ultraviolet)-B light boosts vitamin
D, as well as cells in our body that are responsible for
regulating or balancing the immune system. Vitamin D is made in
our bodies by UV-B light from the sun. Some studies have
suggested a link between vitamin D deficiency and autoimmune
diseases such as MS. This possible link might also explain the
increasing prevalence of autoimmune disease among those living
far from the equator, where there are lower levels of winter
sun. Autoimmune diseases - like MS and type 1 diabetes - are
diseases where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s
own tissues or harmless substances that enter the body.
University of Aberdeen researchers studied patients in the north
of Scotland - which has the highest rate of MS in the UK - who
were being treated during winter with artificial UV-B light
therapy for skin diseases caused by their immune systems acting
inappropriately. Researchers looked at