In a recent case-control study, sun exposure was found to be associated with a lower risk of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS).

Researchers noted that spending 30 minutes to 1 hour outdoors every day during the most recent summer was linked to a 52% lower likelihood of developing pediatric MS, when compared with spending lesser than 30 minutes outside daily (adjusted OR 0.48). Spending time outdoors for 1 to 2 hours per day reduced the odds by 81% (adjusted OR 0.19), reported researchers. Additionally, summer ambient ultraviolet ray dose was also found to protect against MS (adjusted OR 0.76 per kJ/m2). 

Investigators assessed 332 patients aged between 3 and 22 years who had MS for a median of 7.3 months. They were compared with 534 age- and sex-matched controls without MS. Questionnaires were filled by the study participants or their parents. The responses showed that 18.7% of young MS patients spent less than 30 minutes outdoors every day during the previous summer, compared with 6.2% of controls. The findings are published in the journal Neurology… (Medpage Today)