Multiple sclerosis, or MS, affects the myelin sheath in the central nervous system, which is the covering of the nerves. Your immune system attacks that myelin sheath, causing problems with your brain's communication. As a result, you may have problems with sensations, movement, cognition and control of involuntary functions. Treatment for MS involves different medications, though you may consider supplementing your treatment with vitamins. Do not start taking vitamin supplements for MS without consulting your doctor.
Vitamin A
An antioxidant vitamin, vitamin A helps lower the amount of damage that free radicals can cause to your body. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society notes that while the evidence is preliminary, free radicals may play a role in how MS progresses. Vitamin A exists in several types of food, such as dairy products, eggs, spinach and meat. You can also get vitamin A through supplements. In a study conducted with patients at the Haukeland University Hospital in Norway, MS patients took 5 mL of fish oil along with 3,333 IU of vitamin A, 5.5 IU of vitamin E and 400 IU of vitamin D. Of these patients, 69 percent of them had an improvement in their symptoms, according to the University of Michigan Health System. The two-year study included 16 MS patients who were diagnosed recently with the disorder. If you choose to use vitamin A supplements, do so under the supervision of a doctor. If you take more than 25,000 IU of vitamin A every day, you can develop chronic vitamin A poisoning and become ill, notes MedlinePlus.
B Vitamins
Several B vitamins may help with your MS symptoms. For example, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society reports that MS patients can have lower levels of vitamin B12 in their bodies. However, you should not start taking vitamin B12 supplements without having your doctor check your levels first. If you do have a deficiency in vitamin B12, you can also get the vitamin through foods such as eggs and shellfish. Another B vitamin linked to MS is thiamine, also called vitamin B1. A deficiency in this type of B vitamin can result in damage to your nerves. Injections of thiamine into the spinal cord may help reduce symptoms, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Talk to your doctor before starting any B vitamin supplements for MS, as some may cause more problems. For example, an overdose in vitamin B6 can cause symptoms that are similar to your MS symptoms.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D may affect how your immune system functions, which can improve your MS, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Another link between MS and vitamin D is that low levels of the vitamin can contribute to osteoporosis, which is a complication of MS. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends 1,000 IU of vitamin D a day along with 1,500 to 2,000mg of calcium for symptoms of weakness.
Other Vitamins
Other vitamins may also help with MS, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, which are both antioxidants. Vitamin C can help with urinary tract infections, which you have an increased risk of as an MS patient, notes the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends a multivitamin, which contains the B vitamins, vitamins A, C, E and D, in addition to zinc, magnesium, selenium and calcium.
References
- University of Michigan Health System: Multiple Sclerosis
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Multiple sclerosis
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs in MS: An Introduction
- MedlinePlus: Vitamin A
- MedlinePlus: Multiple sclerosis
- PubMed.gov: Effect of dietary advice and n-3 supplementation in newly diagnosed MS patients
