MS Society: UK milk has 'trace vitamin D levels'

Recent research revealed ahead of the American Academy of Neurology's Annual Meeting in April has linked milk during pregnancy to the lowering of a baby's risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in later life.

Doctors in Boston announced that their survey was based on a sample of American mothers and claimed that MS risk was much lower among women born to mothers with high dietary vitamin D intake during pregnancy.

However, this is not exactly the case in the UK, according to the MS Society. That is because while UK media reports focused on the milk link, "it is in fact the case that there are only trace elements of vitamin D in milk consumed in this country", the charity asserted.

Most of Britain's milk is not fortified with supplements like vitamin D, it was added, and so "whatever quantity of milk is ingested, vitamin D levels in the body are likely to remain unaffected".

The MS Society added that oily fish and exposure to sunshine remain the two best ways for someone from the UK to improve their immunity to MS.

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