Can antioxidants relieve the symptoms of MS?
Oxidants, or free radicals, are chemicals that react easily with other substances in the body, changing or damaging their structure. For example, essential fatty acids are vulnerable to attack from oxidants. Certain vitamins can limit the damage oxidants cause and protect the essential fatty acids. These vitamins are known as antioxidants. Some research has suggested that oxidant activity in the central nervous system may be linked to the damage that occurs in MS. However, there have been few studies into the use of antioxidants for people with MS and the significance of oxidants is still unclear. Antioxidant therapy might also carry a risk for people with MS, as some antioxidants have a stimulating effect on the immune system, which in theory could worsen the effects of MS. Further research is needed to determine the safety and potential benefits of antioxidant therapy for MS.
