Validity and Reliability of Adult Recall of Past Sun Exposure in a Case-Control Study of Multiple Sclerosis

Few studies report a protective role of childhood solar exposure to multiple sclerosis. Our objective was to confirm the protective role of childhood solar exposure in multiple sclerosis in Cuba, Martinique and Sicily. This was a matched case— control study, and cases met Poser criteria for clinically, laboratory (definite, probable) multiple sclerosis. Controls were resident population, without neurological disorder, living close to cases (within 100 km), matched for sex, age (±5 years), residence before age 15. We recruited 551 subjects during a 1-year period (193 cases, Cuba n = 95, Sicily n = 50, Martinique n = 48; 358 controls). Some (89%) met definite clinical multiple sclerosis criteria (relapsing remitting form (with and without sequel) (74%), secondary progressive (21%), primary progressive (5%)). Odds ratios in a uni-variate analysis were: family history of multiple sclerosis (5.1) and autoimmune disorder (4.0); wearing shirt (3.5), hat (2.7), pants (2.4); sun exposure causing sunburn (1.8); sun exposure duration (1 h more/day; weekends 0.91, weekdays 0.86); bare-chested (0.6); water sports (0.2). Independent factors in the multivariate analysis were family history of multiple sclerosis (4.8 (1.50—15.10)), wearing pants under sunlight (1.9 (1.10—3.20)), sun exposure duration (1 h more/ day, weekdays 0.90 (0.85—0.98), weekends 0.93 (0.87—0.99)), water sports (0.23 (0.13—0.40)). We conclude that outdoor leisure activities in addition to sun exposure reports are associated with a reduced multiple sclerosis risk, with evidence of dose response.

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Dietary Food Groups and Nutrient Intake in Association with Multiple Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study

Journal of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development ◽

10.18502/jehsd.v6i1.5762 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Monire Fallah Yakhdani ◽

Mohammad Mohammadi ◽

Amin Salehi Abargouei ◽

Masuod Mirzaei ◽

Abolghasem Rahimdel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Economic Status ◽

Sun Exposure ◽

Case Control ◽

Dietary Intakes ◽

Food Groups ◽

Yazd City ◽

The Relationship ◽

Control Study

Introduction: It has been proposed that dietary intake is associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). The present case-control study was conducted to investigate the relationship between intake of different food groups and occurrence of MS among the recently diagnosed adult patients in Yazd City, Iran. Materials and Methods: In the current study, a group of 45 patients who have recently been diagnosed with MS and 100 healthy controls were investigated in this research. Participants were matched regarding their gender. Dietary intakes were assessed using a self-administered semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Participants also completed a demographic questionnaire including information such as age, gender, marital status, job, education, sun exposure, smoking, sunscreen, body mass index (BMI), economic status, as well as their spouses' occupations and education. Logistic regressions in crude and multivariable-adjusted models were used to investigate the relationship between food groups and the odds of developing MS. Results: The findings showed that participants with high consumption of fruits, potatoes, refined grains, pickles, and fibers had a significantly lower chance for developing MS after adjustment for the maximum possible confounding variables (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study revealed that several food groups or nutrients are associated with the development of MS. Further multi-central prospective studies including more participants are needed to confirm these results

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Sun exposure and multiple sclerosis risk in Norway and Italy: The EnvIMS study

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458513513968 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 20 (8) ◽

pp. 1042-1049 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Kjetil Bjørnevik ◽

Trond Riise ◽

Ilaria Casetta ◽

Jelena Drulovic ◽

Enrico Granieri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Sun Exposure ◽

Case Control ◽

Childhood And Adolescence ◽

Outdoor Activity ◽

Red Hair ◽

Multiple Sclerosis Risk ◽

Sunscreen Use ◽

Control Study

Objectives: The objective of this paper is to estimate the association between multiple sclerosis (MS) and measures of sun exposure in specific age periods in Norway and Italy. Methods: A total of 1660 MS patients and 3050 controls from Italy and Norway who participated in a multinational case-control study (EnvIMS) reported sun habits during childhood and adolescence. Results: A significant association between infrequent summer outdoor activity and increased MS risk was found in Norway and in Italy. The association was strongest between the ages of 16 and 18 years in Norway (odds ratio (OR) 1.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30–2.59), and between birth and age 5 years in Italy (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.16–2.10). In Italy a significant association was also found during winter (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.03–1.97). Frequent sunscreen use between birth and the age of 6 years was associated with MS in Norway (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.08–1.93) after adjusting for outdoor activity during the same period. Red hair (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.06–2.63) and blonde hair (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.09–1.70) were associated with MS after adjusting for outdoor activity and sunscreen use. Conclusion: Converging evidence from different measures underlines the beneficial effect of sun exposure on MS risk.

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