Can Vitamins and Supplements Help MS?, If you take vitamins or other supplements, you're in good company: More than half of all adults in the United States do, in hopes of avoiding nutrient deficiencies, staving off chronic disease, or improving health overall.
Do vitamins and supplements help with multiple sclerosis though? The answer seems to be a resounding "We don’t know yet."
Take vitamin D, for example. A study published in March 2014 in JAMA Neurology found that a higher level of vitamin D in the body predicted a slower progression of MS and fewer new lesions in people with early symptoms of MS.
In multiple sclerosis, a “lesion” is an area where the fatty layer of myelin that normally insulates and protects the nerve fibers has been damaged.
Ellen M. Mowry, MD, an associate professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, says the 2014 study results are exciting because they confirm her earlier research, in which she found that low levels of vitamin D correlated with more lesions and more active disease.
However, though evidence is mounting, Dr. Mowry remains cautious about uniformly advising people to take vitamin D supplements when they have MS. “As practitioners, we want to make sure we apply the best scientific evidence,” she says, “and all of the clinical trials are still ongoing, so we really still don't know whether supplementing vitamin D helps.”
To naturally increase your levels of vitamin D, you can:
Eat vitamin-D-rich foods such as fatty fish, liver, fortified milk, and fortified cereals.
Get moderate amounts of sunlight, on the order of 15 to 30 minutes a day. Your body can make vitamin D when skin is exposed to the sun’s rays, but remember that too much exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays can lead to skin cancer.
Before taking vitamin D supplements (or any other supplement), be sure to talk with your doctor, advises Kathleen Costello, MS, associate vice president of clinical care for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This will help you avoid any negative drug interactions.
Can Other Vitamins and Supplements Help MS?
Here’s what is known about some other vitamins, minerals, and herbs that have been studied in people with MS:
Antioxidant vitamins. The body’s cells use oxygen to function. When they do, they release unstable molecules known as free radicals that can cause tissue damage. Antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, scavenge for free radicals and can prevent that damage.Antioxidants are readily available in healthy foods — vitamin A in brightly colored fruits and vegetables like carrots, squash, cantaloupe, peaches, apricots, and broccoli; vitamin C in citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, and strawberries; and vitamin E in nuts, seeds, whole grains, vegetable oil, and green leafy vegetables.
Although they are important for overall health, however, whether antioxidants can improve the course of MS is still under investigation, Mowry says.
B vitamins. Vitamin B12 supports red blood cell production and nervous system function. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause symptoms similar to those seen in MS.
However, while some earlier studies have suggested an association between vitamin B12 deficiency and MS, a study published in April 2012 in the International Journal of Preventive Medicine found no such relationship.
Consequently, the researchers advised against routinely testing people with known MS for B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 supplements have not been shown to improve symptoms of MS or to alter the disease.
Selenium. Selenium is a mineral with antioxidant properties that is found in seafood, legumes, whole grains, meats, and dairy products. People with MS may have lower levels of selenium than people who don't have the condition.
A study published in June 2014 in Nutrition Journal found that dietary habits could have a significant impact on patients’ selenium status. The study also concluded that smoking and MS drug therapy may have a negative effect on people's total antioxidant status. More research is needed, Mowry says.
Ginkgo biloba. An herbal extract with antioxidant effects, ginkgo is thought to improve memory. However, a study published in September 2012 in Neurology compared gingko biloba to a placebo and found that it did not improve the cognitive performance of people with MS.
Valerian. People with MS often have trouble sleeping and may turn to this herbal remedy for help. But according to the National Institutes of Health, studies of the sleep-promoting effects of valerian are inconclusive. Also, while it is often well-tolerated, valerian may affect some prescription MS medications by increasing their sedating effects.
Probiotics. Often referred to as “good” bacteria, probiotics are found in foods such as yogurt as well as in supplements. A study published in the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine in August 2013 found that the evidence on probiotics for the prevention or treatment of autoimmune diseases such as MS is conflicting yet promising.
"Human studies of gut bacteria and probiotics in MS are just starting," Mowry says, "so we don’t know whether taking probiotics helps."
The Key Message: More Trials Are Needed
The bottom line, Mowry says, is that more carefully designed, larger trials are needed before recommendations can be made about which vitamins, minerals, and other supplements may help MS. And because high levels of even essential vitamins and other supplements can be dangerous, talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian experienced in MS about the right amounts for you, Costello reiterates.
Do vitamins and supplements help with multiple sclerosis though? The answer seems to be a resounding "We don’t know yet."
Take vitamin D, for example. A study published in March 2014 in JAMA Neurology found that a higher level of vitamin D in the body predicted a slower progression of MS and fewer new lesions in people with early symptoms of MS.
In multiple sclerosis, a “lesion” is an area where the fatty layer of myelin that normally insulates and protects the nerve fibers has been damaged.
Ellen M. Mowry, MD, an associate professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, says the 2014 study results are exciting because they confirm her earlier research, in which she found that low levels of vitamin D correlated with more lesions and more active disease.
However, though evidence is mounting, Dr. Mowry remains cautious about uniformly advising people to take vitamin D supplements when they have MS. “As practitioners, we want to make sure we apply the best scientific evidence,” she says, “and all of the clinical trials are still ongoing, so we really still don't know whether supplementing vitamin D helps.”
To naturally increase your levels of vitamin D, you can:
Eat vitamin-D-rich foods such as fatty fish, liver, fortified milk, and fortified cereals.
Get moderate amounts of sunlight, on the order of 15 to 30 minutes a day. Your body can make vitamin D when skin is exposed to the sun’s rays, but remember that too much exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays can lead to skin cancer.
Before taking vitamin D supplements (or any other supplement), be sure to talk with your doctor, advises Kathleen Costello, MS, associate vice president of clinical care for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This will help you avoid any negative drug interactions.
Can Other Vitamins and Supplements Help MS?
Here’s what is known about some other vitamins, minerals, and herbs that have been studied in people with MS:
Antioxidant vitamins. The body’s cells use oxygen to function. When they do, they release unstable molecules known as free radicals that can cause tissue damage. Antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, scavenge for free radicals and can prevent that damage.Antioxidants are readily available in healthy foods — vitamin A in brightly colored fruits and vegetables like carrots, squash, cantaloupe, peaches, apricots, and broccoli; vitamin C in citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, and strawberries; and vitamin E in nuts, seeds, whole grains, vegetable oil, and green leafy vegetables.
Although they are important for overall health, however, whether antioxidants can improve the course of MS is still under investigation, Mowry says.
B vitamins. Vitamin B12 supports red blood cell production and nervous system function. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause symptoms similar to those seen in MS.
However, while some earlier studies have suggested an association between vitamin B12 deficiency and MS, a study published in April 2012 in the International Journal of Preventive Medicine found no such relationship.
Consequently, the researchers advised against routinely testing people with known MS for B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 supplements have not been shown to improve symptoms of MS or to alter the disease.
Selenium. Selenium is a mineral with antioxidant properties that is found in seafood, legumes, whole grains, meats, and dairy products. People with MS may have lower levels of selenium than people who don't have the condition.
A study published in June 2014 in Nutrition Journal found that dietary habits could have a significant impact on patients’ selenium status. The study also concluded that smoking and MS drug therapy may have a negative effect on people's total antioxidant status. More research is needed, Mowry says.
Ginkgo biloba. An herbal extract with antioxidant effects, ginkgo is thought to improve memory. However, a study published in September 2012 in Neurology compared gingko biloba to a placebo and found that it did not improve the cognitive performance of people with MS.
Valerian. People with MS often have trouble sleeping and may turn to this herbal remedy for help. But according to the National Institutes of Health, studies of the sleep-promoting effects of valerian are inconclusive. Also, while it is often well-tolerated, valerian may affect some prescription MS medications by increasing their sedating effects.
Probiotics. Often referred to as “good” bacteria, probiotics are found in foods such as yogurt as well as in supplements. A study published in the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine in August 2013 found that the evidence on probiotics for the prevention or treatment of autoimmune diseases such as MS is conflicting yet promising.
"Human studies of gut bacteria and probiotics in MS are just starting," Mowry says, "so we don’t know whether taking probiotics helps."
The Key Message: More Trials Are Needed
The bottom line, Mowry says, is that more carefully designed, larger trials are needed before recommendations can be made about which vitamins, minerals, and other supplements may help MS. And because high levels of even essential vitamins and other supplements can be dangerous, talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian experienced in MS about the right amounts for you, Costello reiterates.
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