MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: ANTIOXIDANT MAY SLOW DISEASE PROGRESSION
Multiple sclerosis: antioxidant may slow disease progression –ACTIDOCTORSONLIN E
Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive neurological disorder known to affect more than 2.3 million people all over the world. It is an autoimmune disorder wherein the immune system mistakenly attacks and depletes the myelin sheath, the protective covering of the nerves in the nervous system. This interferes with the signalling between brain and spinal cord resulting in the symptoms of MS!
The feature of MS that is characteristic and makes the condition a dreadful is that the patient experiences frequent flare ups of the symptoms, known as Relapsing MS and periods of no symptoms, known as Remissions. Patients with Relapsing MS often progresses to Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, which results in brain atrophy!
There is no treatment available for SPMS but there are a few disease modifying therapies which delays the progression of the disease! A study was conducted to understand the diseases which helps in the same and the study showed that regular consumption of high dose antioxidant on regular basis delays or slows the progression of MS!
Lipoic Acid is an over the counter antioxidant that has shown effective result in delaying the progression of the SPMS and helps in treatment. The study showed the results but the mechanism behind the same is still unknown. Also the effect was seen with higher doses of the Antioxidant! To assess the benefit of this on individuals, the much stringent pilot study has to be conducted and the results compared!!
If proven effectively, it is going to be a boon for patients with MS!