By David Liu, PHD

Wednesday Dec 26, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- A study recently published in Multiple Sclerosis suggests that tobacco smoking may increase risk of multiple sclerosis in young people.

J. Salzer from Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Neurology at Umeå University in Sweden conducted the case-control study and found individuals whose cotinine levels exceeding 10 ng/mL were 50 percent more likely to develop multiple sclerosis, compared with those who had lower levels or non-smokers.

Cotinine is a metabolite of nicotine, a compound found in tobacco smoke, which has been associated with increased risk of multiple sclerosis. The current study was intended to examine the relationship between the metabolite and risk of multiple sclerosis.

The study involved 192 cases of multiple sclerosis and 384 matched controls whose levels of cotinine were measured using an immunoassay.

Elevated cotinine levels (equal to or greater than 10 ng/mL) were found correlated with 50 percent increased risk of multiple sclerosis, but only in young individuals who were younger than the median age, 26.4 years, at blood sampling.  Among these young people, the risk was doubled.

The researchers concluded the study confirms that tobacco smoking is a risk factor for multiple sclerosis.