Helen Tremlett1, Feng Zhu2, Alberto Ascherio2, Kassandra L Munger2. 1. From the Centre for Brain Health and Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) (H.T., F.Z.), University of British Columbia; Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (H.T., F.Z.), British Columbia, Canada; Departments of Nutrition (A.A., K.L.M.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. helen.tremlett@ubc.ca. 2. From the Centre for Brain Health and Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) (H.T., F.Z.), University of British Columbia; Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (H.T., F.Z.), British Columbia, Canada; Departments of Nutrition (A.A., K.L.M.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine sun exposure and multiple sclerosis (MS) over the life course (ages 5-15 and 16-20 years, every 10 years thereafter). METHODS: Cases with MS (n = 151) and age-matched controls (n = 235) from the Nurses' Health Study cohorts completed summer, winter, and lifetime sun exposure history questionnaires. Cumulative ambient ultraviolet (UV)-B (based on latitude, altitude, cloud cover) exposure before MS onset was expressed as tertiles. Seasonal sun exposure was defined as low vs high hours per week (summer [≤9 vs >10 h/wk]; winter [≤3 vs >4 h/wk]). Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated via conditional logistic regression with adjustment for body mass index, ancestry, smoking, and vitamin D supplementation. RESULTS: Most participants were white (98%); the mean age at MS onset was 39.5 years. Living in high (vs low) UV-B areas before MS onset was associated with a 45% lower MS risk (adjusted RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.42-0.73). Similar reduced risks (51%-52%) for medium or high exposure were observed at ages 5 to 15 years and at 5 to 15 years before MS onset (adjusted p < 0.05). At age 5 to 15 years, living in a high (vs low) UV-B area and having high (vs low) summer sun exposure were associated with a lower MS risk (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21-0.96). CONCLUSION: Living in high ambient UV-B areas during childhood and the years leading up to MS onset was associated with a lower MS risk. High summer sun exposure in high ambient UV-B areas was also associated with a reduced risk.
OBJECTIVE: To examine sun exposure and multiple sclerosis (MS) over the life course (ages 5-15 and 16-20 years, every 10 years thereafter). METHODS: Cases with MS (n = 151) and age-matched controls (n = 235) from the Nurses' Health Study cohorts completed summer, winter, and lifetime sun exposure history questionnaires. Cumulative ambient ultraviolet (UV)-B (based on latitude, altitude, cloud cover) exposure before MS onset was expressed as tertiles. Seasonal sun exposure was defined as low vs high hours per week (summer [≤9 vs >10 h/wk]; winter [≤3 vs >4 h/wk]). Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated via conditional logistic regression with adjustment for body mass index, ancestry, smoking, and vitamin D supplementation. RESULTS: Most participants were white (98%); the mean age at MS onset was 39.5 years. Living in high (vs low) UV-B areas before MS onset was associated with a 45% lower MS risk (adjusted RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.42-0.73). Similar reduced risks (51%-52%) for medium or high exposure were observed at ages 5 to 15 years and at 5 to 15 years before MS onset (adjusted p < 0.05). At age 5 to 15 years, living in a high (vs low) UV-B area and having high (vs low) summer sun exposure were associated with a lower MS risk (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21-0.96). CONCLUSION: Living in high ambient UV-B areas during childhood and the years leading up to MS onset was associated with a lower MS risk. High summer sun exposure in high ambient UV-B areas was also associated with a reduced risk.
Authors: Kathryn C Fitzgerald; Kassandra L Munger; Karl Köchert; Barry G W Arnason; Giancarlo Comi; Stuart Cook; Douglas S Goodin; Massimo Filippi; Hans-Peter Hartung; Douglas R Jeffery; Paul O'Connor; Gustavo Suarez; Rupert Sandbrink; Ludwig Kappos; Christoph Pohl; Alberto Ascherio Journal: JAMA Neurol Date: 2015-12 Impact factor: 18.302
Authors: Prince Sebastian; Nicolas Cherbuin; Lisa F Barcellos; Shelly Roalstad; Charles Casper; Janace Hart; Gregory S Aaen; Lauren Krupp; Leslie Benson; Mark Gorman; Meghan Candee; Tanuja Chitnis; Manu Goyal; Benjamin Greenberg; Soe Mar; Moses Rodriguez; Jennifer Rubin; Teri Schreiner; Amy Waldman; Bianca Weinstock-Guttman; Jennifer Graves; Emmanuelle Waubant; Robyn Lucas Journal: Neurology Date: 2021-12-08 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Emmanuelle Waubant; Robyn Lucas; Ellen Mowry; Jennifer Graves; Tomas Olsson; Lars Alfredsson; Annette Langer-Gould Journal: Ann Clin Transl Neurol Date: 2019-08-07 Impact factor: 4.511
Authors: Anna Karin Hedström; Nicole Brenner; Julia Butt; Jan Hillert; Tim Waterboer; Tomas Olsson; Lars Alfredsson Journal: Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm Date: 2020-12-15
Authors: Vera R Lezhnyova; Ekaterina V Martynova; Timur I Khaiboullin; Richard A Urbanowicz; Svetlana F Khaiboullina; Albert A Rizvanov Journal: Biology (Basel) Date: 2020-12-11