Lisa G Gallagher1, Sindana Ilango2, Annette Wundes3, Gary A Stobbe3, Katherine W Turk3, Gary M Franklin4, Martha S Linet5, D Michal Freedman5, Bruce H Alexander6, Harvey Checkoway7. 1. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA. 2. Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA. 3. Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. 4. Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. 5. Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute and DHHS, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA. 6. Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. 7. Department of Neurosciences, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from sunlight may be a risk factor for developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Possible pathways may be related to effects on immune system function or vitamin D insufficiency, as UVR plays a role in the production of the active form of vitamin D in the body. OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether lower levels of residential UVR exposure from sunlight were associated with increased MS risk in a cohort of radiologic technologists. METHODS: Participants in the third and fourth surveys of the US Radiologic Technologists (USRT) Cohort Study eligible (N = 39,801) for analysis provided complete residential histories and reported MS diagnoses. MS-specialized neurologists conducted medical record reviews and confirmed 148 cases. Residential locations throughout life were matched to satellite data from NASA's Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) project to estimate UVR dose. RESULTS: Findings indicate that MS risk increased as average lifetime levels of UVR exposures in winter decreased. The effects were consistent across age groups <40 years. There was little indication that low exposures during summer or at older ages were related to MS risk. CONCLUSION: Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that UVR exposure reduces MS risk and may ultimately suggest prevention strategies.
BACKGROUND: Low exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from sunlight may be a risk factor for developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Possible pathways may be related to effects on immune system function or vitamin Dinsufficiency, as UVR plays a role in the production of the active form of vitamin D in the body. OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether lower levels of residential UVR exposure from sunlight were associated with increased MS risk in a cohort of radiologic technologists. METHODS:Participants in the third and fourth surveys of the US Radiologic Technologists (USRT) Cohort Study eligible (N = 39,801) for analysis provided complete residential histories and reported MS diagnoses. MS-specialized neurologists conducted medical record reviews and confirmed 148 cases. Residential locations throughout life were matched to satellite data from NASA's Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) project to estimate UVR dose. RESULTS: Findings indicate that MS risk increased as average lifetime levels of UVR exposures in winter decreased. The effects were consistent across age groups <40 years. There was little indication that low exposures during summer or at older ages were related to MS risk. CONCLUSION: Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that UVR exposure reduces MS risk and may ultimately suggest prevention strategies.
Entities:
Keywords:
Epidemiology; ultraviolet radiation; vitamin D
Authors: Amy A Irving; Steven J Marling; Jeremy Seeman; Lori A Plum; Hector F DeLuca Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2019-10-21 Impact factor: 11.205
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: Zhi-Ming Mai; Jia-Huang Lin; Roger Kai-Cheong Ngan; Dora Lai-Wan Kwong; Wai-Tong Ng; Alice Wan-Ying Ng; Kai-Ming Ip; Yap-Hang Chan; Anne Wing-Mui Lee; Sai-Yin Ho; Maria Li Lung; Tai-Hing Lam Journal: Open Forum Infect Dis Date: 2020-09-12 Impact factor: 3.835
Authors: R E Neale; P W Barnes; T M Robson; P J Neale; C E Williamson; R G Zepp; S R Wilson; S Madronich; A L Andrady; A M Heikkilä; G H Bernhard; A F Bais; P J Aucamp; A T Banaszak; J F Bornman; L S Bruckman; S N Byrne; B Foereid; D-P Häder; L M Hollestein; W-C Hou; S Hylander; M A K Jansen; A R Klekociuk; J B Liley; J Longstreth; R M Lucas; J Martinez-Abaigar; K McNeill; C M Olsen; K K Pandey; L E Rhodes; S A Robinson; K C Rose; T Schikowski; K R Solomon; B Sulzberger; J E Ukpebor; Q-W Wang; S-Å Wängberg; C C White; S Yazar; A R Young; P J Young; L Zhu; M Zhu Journal: Photochem Photobiol Sci Date: 2021-01-20 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Mariana Oliveira; André Padrão; André Ramalho; Mariana Lobo; Ana Cláudia Teodoro; Hernâni Gonçalves; Alberto Freitas Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-11-13 Impact factor: 3.390