All Multiple Sclerosis patients know that they can slow the course of the disease with the help of medication, diet and, of course exercise.

Taking a look at diets, we soon find out that diets are based upon feeding the body the right quantities of substances that it needs to function properly. Of course, when it comes to MS these quantities and substances differ. But, digging even deeper, we find that a normal human body needs proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins to function properly. Normally, we should be able to get all of these out of the food we eat. And a healthy person does this, but what happens with an MS person?

It is known that some vitamins are recommended for some diseases. This is the case of Multiple Sclerosis.  It has been proven that antioxidants, vitamins C and E, selenium, beta-carotene, and vitamin B12 are good for Multiple Sclerosis patients.

Ensuring the proper quantities of these vitamins and nutrients doesn’t cure multiple sclerosis, but improves one’s quality of life, making MS an overall easier experience.

Antioxidants are good for MS patients because as evidence suggests, the damage to nerve’s fatty sheat associated with MS is caused by what’s known to be an oxidative injury. According to some doctors, these findings indicate that antioxidant nutrients need to be taken by MS patients to help protect their body from the damage MS does. The antioxidants that were found to work best are vitamins E and C, selenium and beta-carotene. It is recommended to take at least 500 mg of Vitamin C up to 4 times per day, 100 mg of Selenium and 800 IU of vitamin E once a day.  These dosages should not be exceeded if not recommended so by your doctor.

Also, in the United States most doctors don’t believe that vitamin B12 deficiency contributes to MS, but, according to studies and research a link between this nutrient and the condition exists. Vitamin B12 deficiency can mimic MS symptoms like tingling in arms and legs, numbness, loss of balance and fatigue. A severe vitamin B12 deficiency can cause the breakdown of the myelin sheath, in a similar fashion MS does. It has been also proven that MS patients have lower levels of vitamin B12, so it is recommended to take up to 500 mg of vitamin B12 per day.

Another vitamin that has an important role in MS was found to be Vitamin D. However, vitamin D is best to be taken by young children and adolescents to prevent the development of this condition later in their lives. Research was unable to show any improvement in an increased vitamin D intake and improvement in MS symptoms.

It’s needless to say, that MS patients should never self-medicate. Rather, they should ask for a doctor’s opinion and prescription, as their current doctor knows best what is recommended and not, and what interferes with one’s current treatment scheme.