BLOG: Supplements—A Cautionary Tale

[ActiveMSers]

When I heard the news, I was speechless. How could basic supplements cause this? About 80 percent of people with multiple sclerosis take vitamins and dietary supplements for their disease—so yes, I told my neurologist, I took a host of multi-colored pills every day. Fish oil. Glucosamine. Chondroitin. Daily multivitamin. Melatonin. Others…. “Stop them all immediately,” he said. So I threw each pill bottle into the trash, probably a hundred dollars worth or more. There wasn’t anything else I could do....

The surprising complications that can result from taking seemingly benign supplements is the topic of my latest blog:
http://00634ca.netsolhost.com/blog/?p=64

[Stella]

When I heard the news, I was speechless. How could basic supplements cause this? About 80 percent of people with multiple sclerosis take vitamins and dietary supplements for their disease—so yes, I told my neurologist, I took a host of multi-colored pills every day. Fish oil. Glucosamine. Chondroitin. Daily multivitamin. Melatonin. Others…. “Stop them all immediately,” he said. So I threw each pill bottle into the trash, probably a hundred dollars worth or more. There wasn’t anything else I could do....

The surprising complications that can result from taking seemingly benign supplements is the topic of my latest blog:
http://00634ca.netsolhost.com/blog/?p=64

Hi Dave,

that is astounding, as I started taking some supplements when I first got diagnosed and I showed them to the specialist and he said they are okay to take. On the flip side, I haven't been feeling that well and have yet to be started on medication. So I suppose it is up to your MS doctor? Has your prognosis improved since you stopped taking all those supplements? Do you personally think one is better off without supplements and just stick to your DMD?

Thanks,

Stella

[ActiveMSers]

I didn't feel any worse (or better, for that matter) with the supplements I was taking. And in general I don't think taking supplements are a concern, well, except maybe to your wallet—they can get expensive.

But in this unusual case, they may have caused some changes to my body that eliminated me from the clinical trial because of the sensitive testing and strict requirements. Most people shouldn't have to be concerned about that. Even with below norm numbers, my neuro was never worried about my health. He was just worried about my participation in the study. Overall I felt fine.