Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) can complicate decisions about what supplements and vitamins you can take. Maintaining your physical health is especially important when you’re living with a chronic condition like MS, but how do you know which supplements and vitamins for MS are safe?

This article discusses points to consider when using vitamins and supplements. It also includes some risks and other factors to consider before trying new supplements and vitamins. Always speak with your doctor before making any changes to your health regimen.

Can Vitamins and Supplements Help You?

Many people living with MS are curious about supplements and vitamins. Some people are aiming to improve their health, reduce MS-related inflammation, and feel better. Others find that complementary supplements may decrease fatigue or other MS symptoms.

Researchers haven’t found supplements conclusively capable of reducing MS flares or slowing disease progression. Only disease-modifying therapies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been shown to treat MS. Remember that supplements should never replace your prescribed MS treatment.

Researchers have found that deficiencies in vitamin A, B12, or D are relatively common among people living with MS. But research studies into whether supplements can help have been inconclusive and sometimes contradictory.

For example, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause numbness, tingling, weakness, and balance problems that may look like or worsen MS symptoms. If testing shows you’re deficient, your doctor may recommend vitamin B12 supplements. However, there’s no good evidence that vitamin B12 supplements worsen MS symptoms or improve MS in people who aren’t deficient.

Vitamin D and MS

Vitamin D supports bone and muscle health. It also plays a role in strengthening the immune system and immune cells (T cells and B cells), which are abnormal in MS. People can get vitamin D from sun exposure, certain foods, and supplements.

Researchers have studied the link between vitamin D levels and MS for many years. Scientists initially suspected a connection because there’s a lower incidence of MS near the equator. That’s where more sun exposure means higher levels of vitamin D.

Some studies have found that people with higher levels of vitamin D may have a lower risk of developing MS. Some research has also suggested that people living with MS with high vitamin D may have less disease activity and lower relapse rates, but overall, results are still inconclusive.

Research hasn’t clearly shown that high-dose vitamin D is safe or effective for everyone with MS. Plus, experts don’t recommend taking large doses unless your healthcare provider specifically advises you to do so. Too much vitamin D can cause high calcium levels, kidney stones, kidney damage, nausea, confusion, and other serious health problems.

How Much Vitamin D Do You Need?

The current recommended dietary allowance is 600 international units per day, but your needs may be different if you have a vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is also absorbed from foods like fish or enriched products like orange juice, dairy products, and plant-based milks.

You can ask your neurologist to test your vitamin D levels and check for deficiency. If you have one, speak with your doctor about the best ways to increase those levels.

Multivitamins

As the name implies, multivitamins are supplements that contain a variety of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals. They’re intended to fill nutrient gaps in a person’s diet in a single pill. Not all multivitamins contain the same types or amounts of vitamins and minerals.

One study found that multivitamins may improve inflammation and fatigue in some people living with MS. But getting the right balance of vitamins from dietary sources, such as fruits and vegetables, is a better approach than relying on supplements.

In fact, vitamins need to work in careful balance. A high concentration of one vitamin might cause a relative deficiency of another.

Your doctor can help you find the right multivitamin and avoid problems like an overdose if you’re taking multiple supplements. There isn’t one best multivitamin for people with MS. The right choice depends on your diet, vitamin levels, and overall health.

How To Avoid Overdose and Medication Interactions

It’s a common misconception that vitamins and supplements are safe because they’re “natural.” In fact, supplements can cause side effects and interactions with medications, and it’s possible to overdose. Too much of a good thing can lead to toxicity.

Talk to Your Doctor or Pharmacist

The best way to take a safe amount of the correct vitamins and supplements is to have a discussion with your doctor or pharmacist.

Your doctor can help you choose the best treatment plan, including supplements, for your unique situation. Your pharmacist can help you determine safe doses of vitamins and supplements you want to try and help you avoid drug interactions that can cause health problems.

According to the National Institutes of Health, it’s particularly important to ask your doctor the following questions before trying new vitamins or supplements:

• What are the potential benefits?
• Does it have any risks?
• What dose should I take?
• Does it matter when I take it during the day, and how long I take it?

These questions become even more vital when you are living with MS because your health history may be more complicated.

Know the Risks

It’s essential to discuss decisions regarding your treatment plan with your doctor or specialist before taking vitamins or supplements. This helps ensure that you’re aware of potential risks.

For example:

• Large doses of vitamin E may increase your risk of bleeding, especially if you also take blood-thinning medications.
• Single supplements can contain high doses, making them potentially more dangerous. Always talk with your doctor before taking a new supplement.

It’s also worth noting that some iron supplements can cause or worsen constipation, a common bowel symptom of MS. If you take iron supplements to help with anemia or fatigue, follow your doctor’s medical advice on how best to prevent or reduce this side effect. Notably, iron absorption is improved with supplemental vitamin C.

Do Your Research

Before you head to the doctor’s office, have an idea of what supplements you’d like to discuss with them and why. Ensure you use reliable sources like the National Institutes of Health or medically reviewed articles and studies. Blog posts and other articles that aren’t medically edited and reviewed may be inaccurate.

If you and your doctor decide you can safely try MS supplements to improve your MS symptoms, make sure to get them from reputable sources. Purchasing them from your local pharmacy or by prescription is better than ordering them online from an unknown company.

In the U.S., dietary supplements are regulated differently from prescription and over-the-counter medications. The FDA doesn’t approve dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before they’re sold. Instead, manufacturers are responsible for making sure their products are safe and properly labeled, while the FDA monitors products after they reach the market.

Always make sure the contents of the supplements match the description label.

Read more about supplements like black seed oil, biotin, alpha-lipoic acid, kratom, and lion’s mane mushroom and their effect on MS symptoms and management. Some supplements are being tested in clinical trials for their ability to improve MS symptoms.

High-dose biotin has been studied for MS, but it hasn’t shown consistent benefits and can interfere with important lab tests. Kratom is not recommended by the FDA because of serious safety concerns and isn’t marketed in the U.S.

Reactions to Supplements Vary

It’s easy to look online or talk to other people living with MS and gain heaps of advice on what vitamins and supplements you should take. Some doctors argue there’s no benefit to many dietary supplements at all.

Marketing for supplements promises they’re the secret to perfect health. Each person reacts to vitamins and supplements differently, and it’s important to talk with your team to ensure you’re using supplements safely and preventing dangerous interactions or overdoses.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to the best supplements for MS. Do your research, talk to your healthcare team, and pay attention to your body.