MS Focus Conference: Supplements for MS

Jul 29, 2024

MS Focus Conference: Supplements for MS

Welcome and Introductions

  • Host: Deborah Forman, Educational Programs Coordinator for MS Focus
  • Speaker: Dr. Marco Vespignani, a neuropathic doctor licensed in Washington and California, medical director at Seattle Integrative Medicine
    • Specializes in autoimmune, neurodegenerative, and complex pain syndromes
    • Adjunct faculty at Baster University
    • Contributed to an integrative neurology textbook

Licensure and Legal Notes

  • Licensed in Washington and California; laws may vary by state
  • Not a board-certified neurologist
  • Supplements discussed are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) but not FDA-approved treatments for diseases
  • Suppls must have accurate labels and cannot claim to treat specific conditions

Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act (DSHEA)

  • Enacted in 1994 to protect consumers, ensuring label accuracy
  • Supplements must not falsely claim medicinal properties
  • Manufacturing standards: labels like GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), NSF (National Science Foundation), USP (U.S. Pharmacopoeia)

Supplements and MS Treatment

Key Points on Supplements

  • Goal: Improve small daily actions for a potential long-term impact
  • Supplements should complement traditional Disease Modifying Treatments (DMTs)
  • Focus on lifestyle, diet, exercise, and stress management
  • Supplements should support but not replace good practices

MS Management Pillars

  1. Antioxidants: Combat oxidation (e.g., glutathione, vitamin C, alpha-lipoic acid)
  2. Anti-inflammatory: Manage inflammation (e.g., turmeric, omega-3s)
  3. Immunomodulation: Used alongside DMTs to modulate the immune system
  4. Repair/Remyelination: Promote nervous system repair (e.g., sleep hygiene, melatonin, CBD)

Antioxidants

  • Vitamins: A, C, E, selenium
  • Amino acids: N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
  • Specific compounds: Alpha Lipoic Acid (R-ALA is preferred), Sulforaphane (from broccoli)

Anti-inflammatory Supplements

  • Turmeric (Curcuminoids): Should be standardized to 95% curcumin
  • Omega-3s: From flax, fish, algae; reduce inflammatory response
  • Boswellia: Often used for pain, alternative to NSAIDs
  • Digestive enzymes: May help reduce inflammation in some conditions

Immunomodulation

  • Probiotics: Aid gut health, influencing immune system (prefer CFUs in billions)
  • Diet: Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich diets (e.g., Wahls Protocol, Swank Diet)
  • Vitamin D: Hormone that helps immune regulation (aim for 50-75 ng/mL in tests)

Repair and Remyelination

  • Sleep: Crucial for brain repair
  • Melatonin: Enhances slow-wave sleep, acts as antioxidant
  • Magnesium: Relaxes muscles, helpful for sleep
  • Methylation nutrients: B12, Folate, B6
  • Lion’s Mane Mushroom: May support remyelination
  • CDP Choline: Supports brain function and repair

Q&A Highlights

  • Magnesium for Spasticity: Oral/topical forms, magnesium oil
  • Probiotics and Antibiotics: Best taken hours apart, prefer CFUs in billions
  • Acetyl L-Carnitine: Used for nerve and muscle support
  • Fermented Foods: Single strains of probiotics, beneficial but not equivalent to high-CFU probiotic supplements
  • Brands: Nature’s Way, Thorne, Pure Encapsulations, Zymogen
  • Fatigue management: Complex, including sleep assessment, rhodiola for mild energy support

Conclusion

  • Supplements should be used as complementary treatments
  • Consult healthcare providers before starting new supplements
  • Focus on overall lifestyle changes along with supplement use

Resources

  • FDA: Supplement regulations
  • Integrative Neurology: Chapter on MS
  • Dr. Alan Bolling: Research on cannabis and MS

Next Teleconference: Tuesday, September 14th, 3:30 PM Eastern, featuring Dr. Ben Thrower on vision and MS