The Science of MS Supplements

Many people living with multiple sclerosis are interested in whether vitamins, supplements, or nutrition can play a supportive role in long-term brain and immune health. Two areas that have received growing research attention are alpha-linolenic acid, a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid found in foods like flaxseed and walnuts, and vitamin D, a hormone-like nutrient involved in immune regulation that is often low in people with MS. With so much information online, it can be difficult to know what is truly supported by research versus what is based on personal stories or assumption. New studies are helping us understand these topics more clearly. We explore new insights from large-scale cohort studies and randomized clinical trials assessing the potential role of alpha-linolenic acid and high-dose vitamin D supplementation in early MS. Biomarker-based findings show an association between higher alpha-linolenic acid levels and reduced relapse risk and disability progression over long-term follow-up. The D-Lay MS trial demonstrated a reduction in disease activity in people living with MS receiving high-dose vitamin D early in their condition. Jamie Holloman MD, neurologist at The MS Center for Innovations in Care, interviews: Marianna Cortese MD PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Professor Éric Thouvenot, Head of the Neurology Department, Nîmes University Hospital, France