Phototherapy in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis

Effect of UVB Phototherapy on Serum Vitamin D in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis; a Placebo Controlled Study

The current study examines the effect of phototherapy equipped with Narrow Band UVB lamps on vitamin D production in persons with MS.

Participants will be exposed to phototherapy according to the 2014 Guidelines issued by the American Academy of Dermatology 3 days per week over an 8-week period.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female with multiple sclerosis

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to stand still in a stabilized fashion without risk of falling for up to 6 minutes
• Known medical history of calcium disorder or knowledge of high calcium levels
• Known medical history of hyper-parathyroidism
• Current supplementation with oral vitamin D
• Known allergy to vitamin D
• History of cancer of any type including but not limited to skin cancer
• Obesity defined as BMI > 30
• Known history of fat malabsorption conditions (i.e., steatorrhea)
• Current use of anti-epileptic medication
• Current use of glucocorticoids
• Fitzpatrick skin types I and VI using the Fitzpatrick skin type analysis
• Recent use of tanning facilities