Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack the myelin sheath, or fatty protective layer on nerve cells. When the attack happens, it causes damage in the area as the body attempts to get rid of a perceived threat, and this creates inflammation and cell debris that needs to be cleaned up. The symptoms of MS occur as a result of both the inflammation happening in the brain, and the absence of the myelin sheath around nerve cells which impairs their function.

Nutrients

There are some nutrients that have been identified as having a strong influence on nerve health, and a deficiency in these nutrients may be a risk factor for developing MS. Vitamin D deficiency, especially in early childhood has a strong correlation with multiple
sclerosis, and increasing vitamin D levels may be enough to prevent onset. Vitamin B12 is important in nerve health and a deficiency may, or may not be linked to MS (theresults are mixed). Other nutrient deficiencies have also been implicated in the development and worsening of MS, and some can improve MS symptoms.

Testing

• Blood testing to determine nutrient levels and to look at inflammatory markers may be helpful.
• Any MRI reports you get from your routine check ups would also be helpful in determining the progression of the disease, and to determine if our treatment plan is on the right track.
• If an exposure can be identified, testing for chronic, low grade heavy metal accumulation may be important to determine if heavy metal detoxification would benefit you. This test involves administering a chelating agent (orally or intravenously) followed by urine collection for a set period of time (see chelation therapy).
• Assessing your level of oxidative stress (a result of inflammation) can help to determine if current treatment protocols are working effectively or if we need to change the treatment plan. This is a simple urine test that assesses the amount of a chemical present when DNA is damaged by oxidation.

Treatment Goals

The main goal is to prevent further demyelination, which is done via the following:

Control inflammation

• Diet recommendations to lower foods that upregulate inflammation, and reduce saturated fats that have been suggested to be directly involved in the genesis and progression of MS.
• Intravenous therapies and injections may be helpful in controlling the inflammatory response and protecting nerve cells. One example is intramuscular vitamin B12 which is a major player in nerve cell integrity and DNA protection from the effects of inflammation. More complex protocols may also be used to modulate the immune response.
• Vitamin D may have some benefit here, although it is most effective at preventing MS rather than treating it. If you know you have family members with MS, or you have other risk factors, please make an appointment to discuss what we can do to prevent you from developing MS.
• Lifestyle changes to eliminate behaviours that contribute to inflammation, such as smoking.

Support detoxification

• Intravenous therapy using substances like glutathione, and ALA are extremely helpful in encouraging ongoing efficient liver metabolism to keep your body clear of waste products that contribute to inflammation and immune dysregulation. This also provides antioxidant support to help manage the oxidative damage that comes with chronic inflammation.
• Autoimmune diseases have been closely associated with intestinal damage and “leaky gut” syndrome in the past few years. Taking steps to heal any intestinal damage, and ensure that all processes of digestion and liver metabolism are functioning properly may help to decrease the severity of your symptoms, and prolong remission periods while preventing a relapse or flare.
• Low level heavy metal accumulation is sometimes implicated in MS onset and severity. If we can identify a potential exposure in your life, it may be beneficial to test the levels of heavy metals in your tissues to determine if these may be playing a major role in your MS. Remember, everyone has a low level of heavy metal accumulation in their bodies as a result of our surroundings, so we need to determine if your levels are high enough that they could reasonably be causing symptoms. Treating low grade heavy metal accumulation is called chelation therapy. For more information, visit our chelation therapy page.

Supporting healthy cell processes for optimal energy production to fuel cellular repair mechanisms may help in improving overall symptom severity, and in some cases may contribute to the re-meylination process that occurs to some extent in MS

Manage symptoms to improve QOL

• Preventing MS flares may be as simple as incorporating lifestyle changes to avoid a flare up like staying hydrated, hygiene techniques to avoid infections, exercise and stress management.