Multiple Sclerosis - Supplements

Scientists have learned a lot about this debilitating nerve disease, but there is still no cure. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.

Discover Padma Basic
Improve muscle strength and other symptoms by taking two pills of this herbal remedy three times a day
Switch to the Swank diet
Reduce disability and mortality by eating a diet low in animal fats and hydrogenated oils and high in linoleic acid from natural vegetable oils, and by supplementing with 5 grams of cod liver oil daily
Say good-bye to smoking
Kick the habit to reduce the risk of impaired movement

Also indexed as:

MS,
multiple sclerosis,
multiple sclerosis (MS)

About this treatment

What Are "Star" Ratings?

a7_3star Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.

a7_2star Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.

a7_1star For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.

For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Fish Oil	6 to 20 grams daily	Several studies have shown fish oil to help reduce urinary incontinence, improve eyesight, and reduce relapse rate in people with relapsing-remitting MS.
Fish Oil 6 to 20 grams daily Although some doctors recommend fish oil capsules for people with MS, few investigations have explored the effects of this supplement. In one small trial, people with MS were given approximately 20 grams of fish oil in capsules per day.¹¹ After one to four months, 42% of these people received slight but significant benefits, including reduced urinary incontinence and improved eyesight. However, a longer double-blind trial involving over 300 people with MS found that half this amount of fish oil given per day did not help.¹²A preliminary, two-year intervention trial tested the effects of fish oil supplements (5 ml of fish oil per day, providing 400 mg of EPA and 500 mg of DHA) combined with other dietary supplements and dietary changes in people with newly diagnosed, relapsing-remitting MS.¹³ The other supplements included 3,333 IU of vitamin A per day, 400 IU of vitamin D per day, and approximately 5.5 IU of vitamin E per day. The dietary recommendations included reducing intake of sugar, coffee, tea, saturated fat from meat and dairy products, and alcohol, while increasing intake of fish, fruit, vegetables, and whole-grain bread. Sixty-nine percent of those following the regimen improved, 25% remained the same, and 6% (one person) deteriorated. The many interventions used in this trial make it impossible to determine what was responsible for the positive outcomes. Given the lack of other effective treatments for MS, though, this approach is worth trying while awaiting further evidence. In another trial, combining fish oil supplementation (6 grams per day) with a low-fat diet (15% of total calories) appeared to reduce the relapse rate in people with the relapsing-remitting form of MS.¹⁴ In a small preliminary trial, people with MS were given 20 grams of cod liver oil, as well as approximately 680 mg of magnesium and 1,100 mg of calcium per day in the form of dolomite tablets.¹⁵ After one year, the average number of MS attacks decreased significantly for each person. Unlike fish oil capsules, the cod liver oil in this trial contained not only eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), but 5,000 IU of vitamin D. Therefore, it is not known whether the vitamin D or fatty acids were responsible for the cod liver oil’s effects. (One preliminary study found that giving vitamin D-like drugs to animals with MS was helpful.)¹⁶ It is also possible that the magnesium and/or calcium given to these people reduced MS attacks. Magnesium¹⁷ and calcium¹⁸ levels have been reported to be lower in the nerve tissue of people with MS compared with healthy people. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
L-Carnitine (Drug-Induced Fatigue)	3 to 6 grams daily	Some drugs that are used to treat MS appear to deplete carnitine. In one trial, supplementing with L-carnitine significantly improved fatigue in 63% of drug-treated MS patients.
L-Carnitine 3 to 6 grams daily Some drugs that are used to treat MS appear to deplete carnitine. In a preliminary trial, supplementation with 3 to 6 grams of L-carnitine per day significantly improved fatigue in 63% of drug-treated MS patients.¹⁹ What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Padma Basic	2 herbal tablets or capsules three times per day	An herbal product called Padma Basic was given to 100 people with MS in one study, and 44% experienced increased muscle strength and general overall improvement.
Padma Basic 2 herbal tablets or capsules three times per day A commercial herbal product called Padma Basic was given to 100 people with MS.²⁰ After taking two pills three times per day, 44% of these people experienced increased muscle strength and general overall improvement. The composition of Padma Basic is based on a traditional Tibetan herbal formula.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Calcium	Refer to label instructions	Calcium levels have been reported to be low in people with MS. In one study, people given a combination of cod liver oil, magnesium, and calcium had a significantly reduced number of MS attacks.
Calcium Caution: Calcium supplements should be avoided by prostate cancer patients. In a small preliminary trial, people with MS were given 20 grams of cod liver oil, as well as approximately 680 mg of magnesium and 1,100 mg of calcium per day in the form of dolomite tablets.²¹ After one year, the average number of MS attacks decreased significantly for each person. Unlike fish oil capsules, the cod liver oil in this trial contained not only eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), but 5,000 IU of vitamin D. Therefore, it is not known whether the vitamin D or fatty acids were responsible for the cod liver oil’s effects. (One preliminary study found that giving vitamin D-like drugs to animals with MS was helpful.)²² It is also possible that the magnesium and/or calcium given to these people reduced MS attacks. Magnesium²³ and calcium²⁴ levels have been reported to be lower in the nerve tissue of people with MS compared with healthy people. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Conjugated Linoleic Acid	Refer to label instructions	Omega-6 fatty acids found in sunflower seed oil (a source of linoleic acid) may be beneficial. Studies have reported that linoleic acid reduced relapse severity and length and decreased disability due to MS. Learn More
Evening Primrose Oil	Refer to label instructions	The omega-6 fatty acids found in such oils as evening primrose oil (EPO) may be beneficial. When people with MS were given EPO, their hand grip improved in one study.
Evening Primrose Oil The omega-6 fatty acids, found in such oils as evening primrose oil (EPO) and sunflower seed oil, also may be beneficial. When people with MS were given 4 grams of EPO for three weeks, their hand grip improved.²⁵ In a review of three double-blind trials, two of the trials reported that linoleic acid reduced the severity and length of relapses.²⁶ When the data were re-examined, it was found that taking linoleic acid decreased disability due to MS in all three trials. According to these researchers, taking linoleic acid while following a diet low in animal fat and high in polyunsaturated fat may be even more beneficial. Amounts used in these trials were approximately 17 to 23 grams of linoleic acid per day, provided by 26 to 35 grams of sunflower seed oil. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Ginkgo	Refer to label instructions	Inflammation of nerve tissue is partly responsible for the breakdown of myelin in people with MS. In one study, people with MS showed improvement after being given injections of a constituent of ginkgo.
Ginkgo Inflammation of nerve tissue is partly responsible for the breakdown of myelin in people with MS. When intravenous injections of a constituent of Ginkgo biloba, known as ginkgolide B, were given to people with MS for five days, 80% of them reportedly improved.²⁷ This specialized treatment is experimental, and it is not known whether oral use of ginkgo extracts would have a similar effect. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Inosine	Refer to label instructions	Inosine is a precursor to uric acid, which is believed to block the effect of a compound that may play a role in MS development. Patients given inosine in order to raise uric acid levels experienced improved function in one study.
Inosine Inosine is a precursor to uric acid, a compound that occurs naturally in the body. Uric acid is believed to block the effect of a toxic free-radical compound (peroxynitrite) that may play a role in the development of multiple sclerosis.²⁸ In an attempt to raise uric acid levels, ten patients with MS were treated with inosine in amounts up to 3 grams per day for 46 weeks. Three of the ten treated patients showed some evidence of improved function and the others remained stable.²⁹ Controlled studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Magnesium	Refer to label instructions	Magnesium levels have been reported to be low in people with MS. In one trial, a combination of magnesium, cod liver oil, and calcium helped reduce the number of MS attacks.
Magnesium In a small preliminary trial, people with MS were given 20 grams of cod liver oil, as well as approximately 680 mg of magnesium and 1,100 mg of calcium per day in the form of dolomite tablets.³⁰ After one year, the average number of MS attacks decreased significantly for each person. Unlike fish oil capsules, the cod liver oil in this trial contained not only eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), but 5,000 IU of vitamin D. Therefore, it is not known whether the vitamin D or fatty acids were responsible for the cod liver oil’s effects. (One preliminary study found that giving vitamin D-like drugs to animals with MS was helpful.)³¹ It is also possible that the magnesium and/or calcium given to these people reduced MS attacks. Magnesium³² and calcium³³ levels have been reported to be lower in the nerve tissue of people with MS compared with healthy people. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin B1	Refer to label instructions	Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency may contribute to nerve damage. Researchers have found that injections of thiamine or thiamine combined with niacin may reduce symptoms.
Vitamin B1 Deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) may contribute to nerve damage.³⁴ Many years ago, researchers found that injecting thiamine³⁵ into the spinal cord or using intravenous thiamine combined with niacin³⁶ in people with MS led to a reduction in symptoms. Using injectable vitamins requires medical supervision. No research has yet studied the effects of oral supplementation with B vitamins in people with MS. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin B3	Refer to label instructions	Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency may contribute to nerve damage. Researchers have found that injections of thiamine or thiamine combined with niacin (vitamin B3) may reduce symptoms. Learn More
Vitamin D	Refer to label instructions	Studies suggest that vitamin D may help reduce the number of MS attacks and may protect against the development of the disease.
Vitamin D Animal studies have demonstrated that vitamin D can prevent an experimental form of multiple sclerosis. In humans, striking geographical differences in the prevalence of multiple sclerosis suggest that sun exposure (which promotes the synthesis of vitamin D) may protect against the development of the disease. In addition, higher blood levels of vitamin D are associated with a lower risk of developing MS.³⁷ However, no clinical trials have been done to determine whether increasing vitamin D intake or sunlight exposure would prevent MS. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

References

Last Review: 05-11-2011

Learn more about Aisle7, the company.

The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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