The Effect of a Polysaccharide-Based Multinutrient Dietary Supplementation Regimen on Infections and Immune Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease associated with increased infection rates, chronic inflammation, and premature death. Optimization of nutritional status via dietary supplementation may improve immune function in people suffering from MS and lead to decreased rates of infection. Fifteen individuals with a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS for an average of 12.4 years (SD =7.4; R = 2, 25) were enrolled in a one-year open-label clinical trial. Participants consumed a broad-spectrum dietary supplement regimen containing polysaccharides, phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals three times per day. The occurrence of infections and a panel of cytokines, growth factors, and T- and B-cell subsets were assessed at baseline and 12 months. Seven female and 8 male participants with an average age of 51.3 years (SD =7.2; R = 38, 65) completed the study. At the end of the intervention, participants had fewer total infections (M = 7.9, SD =8.1 at baseline and M = 2.5, SD =4.3 at 12-month follow-up). At 12 months, IL-2, TNF-α, EGF, and CD95 + CD34+ significantly increased, while IL-1β significantly decreased. No major adverse effects were reported; only mild gastrointestinal intolerance was reported in four cases. A decreased occurrence of infection was observed in MS patients treated with 12 months of a polysaccharide-based multinutrient dietary supplement. Significant changes were also noted in several key biomarkers that would be physiologically favorable to the MS population. Thus, the results of this study suggest an immunomodulatory effect of the dietary supplement regimen studied.

Keywords:

• CD95 + CD34+
• dietary supplement
• epidermal growth factor
• immune function
• infections
• interleukin-1β
• interleukin-2
• multiple sclerosis
• polysaccharide
• tumor necrosis factor-α

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to all the volunteers who participated in this study. The authors are grateful to all of the staff at the Joanne P. LaGanke MS Center in the North Central Neurology Associates outpatient facility (Cullman, AL), who helped facilitate the conduct of the study.

Declaration of interest

Reginald McDaniel has received income as a seller of the dietary supplements used in this study. Christopher LaGanke, Laura Bloom, Sharon Goldberg, Lucas C. Lages, Laura A. Lantigua, Steven E. Atlas, Judi M. Woolger, and John E. Lewis have no conflicts of interest to report.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author (JEL) upon reasonable request.

About the authors

H. Reginald McDaniel, MD, Wellness Quest, LLC, Grand Prairie, TX, USA. His research interests include the effects of nutrition and dietary supplementation on multiple outcomes in clinical trials.

Christopher LaGanke, MD, North Central Neurology, Inc., Cullman, AL, USA. His research interests include the effects of nutrition and dietary supplementation on multiple outcomes in clinical trials.

Laura Bloom, BS, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. Her research interests include the effects of nutrition and dietary supplementation on multiple outcomes in clinical trials.

Sharon Goldberg, MD, Glow Health PA, Bay Harbor Islands, FL, USA. Her research interests include the effects of nutrition and dietary supplementation on multiple outcomes in clinical trials.

Lucas C. Lages, BS, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. His research interests include the effects of nutrition and dietary supplementation on multiple outcomes in clinical trials.

Laura A. Lantigua, BS, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. Her research interests include the effects of nutrition and dietary supplementation on multiple outcomes in clinical trials.

Steven E. Atlas, BSN, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. His research interests include the effects of nutrition and dietary supplementation on multiple outcomes in clinical trials.

Judi M. Woolger, MD, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. Her research interests include the effects of nutrition and dietary supplementation on multiple outcomes in clinical trials.

John E. Lewis, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. His research interests include the effects of nutrition and dietary supplementation on multiple outcomes in clinical trials.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a gift from the Fisher Institute for Medical Research. Study supplements were supplied by Mannatech, Inc. and Wellness Quest, LLC.