The Effect of Broad-Spectrum Dietary Supplementation on Quality of Life, Symptom Severity, and Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that exerts a significant quality-of-life toll on patients. According to the literature, broad-spectrum dietary supplementation including a variety of nutrients, polysaccharides, and compounds may improve the quality of life, functionality, and symptom severity in people with MS. Individuals (n = 15) diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) for an average of 12.4 years (SD = 7.4; R = 2, 25) were enrolled in a one-year open-label clinical trial in which they consumed a broad-spectrum dietary supplement regimen three times daily. Participants were assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months with the following: (1) Functional Assessment of MS (FAMS), (2) the EQ-5D-3L, (3) Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI), (4) Health Conditions Discomfort Scale (HCDS), and (5) Self-Assessment of Severity of MS Symptoms Scale (SASMSSS). Participants included seven females and eight males (M age = 51.3 years; SD = 7.2; R = 38, 65). Few minor gastrointestinal effects were reported. At the end of the intervention, participants showed significant improvements in all outcome measures, particularly functionality on the FAMS, overall quality of life on the EQ-5D-3L, fewer depressive symptoms on the BDI, and improved severity of symptoms on the HCDS and the SASMSSS. Our results suggest that dietary supplementation containing a variety of nutrients can improve the quality of life, severity of disease symptoms, and functionality in MS patients. These findings are clinically promising for MS patients, given the lack of treatment options geared toward improving quality of life in this population.

Keywords:

• dietary supplement
• multiple sclerosis
• polysaccharide
• quality of life
• symptom severity

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to all the volunteers who participated in this study. We are grateful to all 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.

Data availability statement

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

Declaration of interest

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

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.

Notes on contributors

H. Reginald McDaniel

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

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

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

Sharon Goldberg, MD, Department of Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA. Her research interests include the effects of nutrition and dietary supplementation on multiple outcomes in clinical trials.

Judith Hensel

Judith Hensel, MSW, North Central Neurology, Inc., Cullman, AL, USA. Her research interests include the effects of nutrition and dietary supplementation on multiple outcomes in clinical trials.

Laura A. Lantigua

Laura A. Lantigua, MBA, 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.

Lucas C. Lages

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.

Steven E. Atlas

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

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

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.