Multiple sclerosis: Breakthrough research points to nutrition as being a key factor in successfully managing the disease

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the brain and spinal cord that affects around 85,000 people in the UK. If you suffer from the condition, or you know someone who does, youll be only too aware of its devastating nature.

The disease destroys, in apparently random patches, a nerve insulating material called myelin that is essential for the nerves to conduct messages to and from the body. No two people experience MS in exactly the same way since damage to one part of the nervous system usually causes completely different symptoms from damage to another.

In general, though, sufferers can experience partial or complete loss of any body function that is controlled by the brain or spinal cord, causing symptoms such as pain, cramps, muscle spasms, muscle weakness, numbness, tingling, pins and needles, slurred speech, disabling fatigue, blurred vision, incontinence the list is almost endless.

For reasons that remain a mystery, the immune systems of people with MS malfunction and attack their own myelin. Although some people are thought to have an inherited tendency to develop the disease, other factors are needed to trigger and worsen the disease. These could include viral or bacterial infections, mercury from dental fillings, food allergies and environmental pollutants such as chemical solvents.

Conventional medicine considers MS to be an incurable disease, although some people get long periods of remission in between relapses. While there may not be a cure, in the last few years cutting-edge research has clearly shown the potential of natural supplements to improve the quality of life for people with this disabling disease.

Drugs may help reduce MS flare-ups but at the expense of risky side-effects

Only four drugs are licensed in the UK for the treatment of the disease, all of which are immune system suppressants Avonex and Rebif (both beta interferon 1a), Betaferon (beta interferon 1b) and Copaxone (glatiramer acetate). They only help around one third of MS patients, by reducing the frequency of relapses, and do nothing to lessen the severity of symptoms.

While these drugs can help make life more bearable for some sufferers, they all come with potential risks and side effects, such as suicidal depression (Rebif), chest pain (Copaxone) and flu-like symptoms (Betaferon). Doctors also typically prescribe a host of other drugs, including corticosteroids, anticonvulsants, painkillers and antidepressants to try to relieve specific symptoms their patients are experiencing. All of which can cause a wide range of adverse effects.

Animal fats and cows milk implicated in triggering the disease

There is strong evidence for nutritional factors being involved in the onset and progression of many cases of the disease. A high intake of saturated animal fat has recently been found to be associated with an increased risk of developing MS (Eur J Clin Nutr 2005; 59(12): 1347-1361). On the other hand, eating more polyunsaturated fats from oily fish, seeds and nuts will both lower the risk of getting MS and slow down the course of the disease (Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol 2004; 50(4): 317-323).

Components of some foods can act as triggers to the immune system, causing it to mount a mistaken response, as if fighting an invading infection. In particular, MS patients need to be wary of cows milk, which contains a protein that mimics one associated with human myelin and could trigger an attack of the disease. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that this kind of cross-reaction commonly occurs (J Immunol 2004; 172(1): 661-668).

Front line natural treatments include Vitamin D and essential fatty acids

Because MS is more prevalent in northerly latitudes where sunlight is weaker, scientists have long suspected that vitamin D which is made naturally in skin exposed to sunshine has a protective effect. Now, a new study of American servicemens medical records has shown conclusively that the risk of developing the disease decreases with increasing blood levels of vitamin D (JAMA 2006; 296: 2832-2838). 

 
In animal studies at least, vitamin D has been shown to not only prevent MS but also to block the progression of the disease (Med Hypotheses 2005; 64(3): 608-618). Take 25mcg of vitamin D each day, but talk to your doctor first if you have high blood calcium (hypercalcaemia) levels or are taking heart medication.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, already mentioned as being protective against the onset of MS, could also help to relieve its symptoms. Scientists have found that the omega-3 essential fatty acids present in oily fish are converted to newly-discovered anti-inflammatory compounds called docosatrienes and neuroprotectins, while at the same time reducing the auto-immune response in MS (J Immunol 2005; 174(7): 4345-4355).

In a double-blind clinical trial, patients with relapsing-remitting MS who took 6 grams of fish oil daily and followed a low-fat diet enjoyed a better quality of life and lower rate of relapses than the control group (Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2005; 73: 397-404).
In a separate study, sufferers of MS experienced significant improvements in their hand grip after taking 4 grams of evening primrose oil a concentrated source of omega-6 essential fatty acids each day for three weeks (M Werbach. Nutritional Influences on Illness. Third Line Press, 1996).

How DHEA and ALA could also benefit sufferers

Levels of the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) from which the body makes sex hormones have been found to be low in MS sufferers. Animal studies have revealed that DHEA reduces the production of the immune systems aggressive T-cells and blocks the secretion of inflammatory chemicals (Eur J Neurol 2005; 12(7): 514-518).

Treatment with DHEA needs to be carried out under medical supervision, but you can boost your bodys own production of DHEA safely with the herb Tribulus terrestris. Take 500mg to 1000mg a day of 5:1 standardised extract.

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a powerful antioxidant, has also been studied as a potential treatment for MS. It has been found to cross the blood-brain barrier and to reduce the activity of a molecule called ICAM-1 that allows T-cells to enter the brain and spinal cord, where they attack the myelin nerve sheaths (J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2004; 63(3): 223-232).

Animal studies have revealed that ALA is able to block the action of T-cells and significantly reduce the destruction of myelin (J Neurosci Res 2004; 78(3): 362-370). The recommended dose of ALA is 300mg a day.