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Patterns of dietary and herbal supplement use by multiple sclerosis patients

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Abstract

To assess the patterns of dietary (DS) and herbal supplement (HS) use in MS patients, compare use between MS patients and healthy controls and to identify potential interactions with drugs used to treat MS. This study included 279 MS subjects and 161 controls from a study of risk factors in MS. All patients received a neurological examination. All subjects provided responses to a standardized questionnaire administered during an in-person interview. A larger proportion of MS patients (82.1%) compared to controls (60.1%) used one or more DS regularly for at least 3 months (p < 0.001). There was a trend toward a higher proportion of MS patients (26.6%) versus controls (17.8%) who used HSs for more than 1 month (p = 0.038). The most common DS used after MS onset was a multivitamin (78.1%), followed by vitamin D (65.8%). Use of the majority of specific DSs increased significantly after MS onset compared to before. The proportion of controls and MS patients after MS onset who reported using an individual HS was generally similar. The most commonly used HS in patients after MS was evening primrose oil (40.4%) followed by cranberry fruit extract (35.2%). There was no evidence for associations with progressive disease course or with choice of disease-modifying treatment. Dietary supplements are used more frequently by MS patients than controls. Use tends to increase after MS onset compared to before, especially for DS. The use of HS by MS patients is only modestly greater than by controls.

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Acknowledgments

Support was received from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (RG3743 and a Pediatric MS Center of Excellence Center Grant), and the Department of Defense Multiple Sclerosis Program (MS090122) is gratefully acknowledged. Kerri O’Connor has nothing to declare. Dr. Weinstock-Guttman has received speaker honoraria and consultant fees from Teva Neuroscience, Biogen Idec, EMD Serono, Novartis, Pfizer, and Accorda. She also received financial support for research activities from the National Institute of Health, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, EMD Serono, Biogen Idec, Teva Neuroscience, Cyberonics, Accorda, and the Jog for the Jake Foundation. These are unrelated to the research presented in this report. Ellen Carl and Colleen Kilanowski have nothing to disclose. Dr. Zivadinov has received speaker honoraria and consultant fees from Teva Neurosciences, Biogen Idec, Questcor, Genzyme, and EMD Serono; and received research support from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Biogen Idec, Teva Neuroscience, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Genzyme, Questcor, Bracco, and Greatbatch. These are unrelated to the research presented in this report. Murali Ramanathan received research funding from Pfizer, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, and National Science Foundation. He received compensation as a consultant for Netezza, BiogenIdec, and Allergan, and for serving as an Associate Editor for the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. These are unrelated to the research presented in this report.

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The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of New York, 427 Cooke Hall, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA

    Kerri O’Connor & Murali Ramanathan

  2. Jacobs Neurological Institute, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA

    Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, Robert Zivadinov & Murali Ramanathan

  3. Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Jacobs Neurological Institute, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA

    Ellen Carl, Colleen Kilanowski & Robert Zivadinov

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  1. Kerri O’Connor
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  2. Bianca Weinstock-Guttman
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  3. Ellen Carl
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  4. Colleen Kilanowski
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  5. Robert Zivadinov
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  6. Murali Ramanathan
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Correspondence to Murali Ramanathan.

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O’Connor, K., Weinstock-Guttman, B., Carl, E. et al. Patterns of dietary and herbal supplement use by multiple sclerosis patients. J Neurol 259, 637–644 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-011-6226-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-011-6226-3

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