Multiple Sclerosis in the Mount Etna Region: Possible Role of Volcanogenic Trace Elements

Abstract

BackgroundTrace elements have been hypothesised to be involved in the pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis and volcanic degassing is the major natural sources of trace elements. Both incidence of Multiple Sclerosis in Catania and volcanic activity of Mount Etna have been significantly increased during the last 30 years. Due to prevailing trade winds direction, volcanic gases from Etna summit craters are mostly blown towards the eastern and southern sectors of the volcano.ObjectiveTo evaluate the possible association between Multiple Sclerosis and exposure to volcanogenic trace elements.MethodsWe evaluated prevalence and incidence of Multiple Sclerosis in four communities (47,234 inhabitants) located in the eastern flank and in two communities (52,210 inhabitants) located in the western flank of Mount Etna, respectively the most and least exposed area to crater gas emissions.ResultsA higher prevalence was found in the population of the eastern flank compared to the population of the western one (137.6/100,000 versus 94.3/100,000; p-value 0.04). We found a borderline significantly higher incidence risk during the incidence study period (1980–2009) in the population of the eastern flank 4.6/100,000 (95% CI 3.1–5.9), compared with the western population 3.2/100,000 (95% CI 2.4–4.2) with a RR of 1.41 (95% CI 0.97–2.05; p-value 0.06). Incidence risks have increased over the time in both populations reaching a peak of 6.4/100,000 in the eastern flank and of 4.4/100.000 in the western flank during 2000–2009.ConclusionWe found a higher prevalence and incidence of Multiple Sclerosis among populations living in the eastern flank of Mount Etna. According to our data a possible role of TE cannot be ruled out as possible co-factor in the MS pathogenesis. However larger epidemiological study are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

The epidemiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the Mount Etna region: a possible pathogenic role of volcanogenic metals

“…It should be noted that previous studies assessing the epidemiology in the Etna region of other diseases such as multiple sclerosis and thyroid cancer showed similar distributions, further supporting this hypothesis. Based on this evidence, it cannot be excluded that a similar distribution could be found for other neurodegenerative diseases.…”

Trace Elements in Scalp Hair Samples from Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

“…Recently, the higher prevalence and incidence of MS observed among populations living in the eastern flank of Mt. Etna was attributed to their exposure to volcanogenic ashes containing TE, suggesting their role as possible environmental co-factor in the pathogenesis of MS [ 24 ]. However, the authors did not actually measured levels of TE in human samples and their conclusions were based on the comparison between two epidemiological distributions (MS prevalence and geochemical studies of volcanic gas emission).…”

Total intake of different minerals and the risk of multiple sclerosis

“…5 Yet, disease-related mechanisms or treatment after disease onset could underlie these changes and the evidence for a role of minerals in MS pathogenesis is scarce and preliminary, as based on ecological, cross-sectional, and retrospective studies. [8][9][10][11][12] Zinc has been of particular interest due to its immune-regulating anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. 2,13 While zinc levels seemed to be lower in patients with MS 6 and zinc may ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an MS animal model, 14,15 its role in MS etiology is unclear.…”