Children born after winter '30% more likely to develop MS'

Scientists in Australia claim to have established a link between a person's month of birth and development of multiple sclerosis later in life.

Children born after the winter months were found to be 30 per cent more likely to develop MS later in life than those born after the summer months, according to an article in the British Medical Journal.

The results were found to be due to the body producing higher levels of vitamin D during pregnancy when subjected to summer sun, the article claims.

Scottish researchers found similar results last year, so this new study provides further evidence for the theory.

Commenting on the study, the head of biomedical research at the MS Society Dr Doug Brown said: "These results add to the weight of existing evidence suggesting that vitamin D plays a role in the development of MS.

"We welcome advances made in this field of research."

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