Vitamin B3 May Be Of Value For Ms

Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Vitamin B3 May Be of Value for MS
Using a mouse model of MS, researchers in the Neurobiology Program at Children's
Hospital Boston found strong evidence that nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, may
protect against nerve damage in the chronic progressive phase, when the most serious
disabilities occur. Through careful experiments, they showed that nicotinamide protected
the animals' axons from degeneration – not only preventing axon inflammation and
myelin loss, but also protecting axons that had already lost their myelin from further
degradation. The greater the dose of nicotinamide, the greater the protective effect.
The earlier therapy was started, the better the effect, but the researchers hope
nicotinamide can help patients who are already in the chronic stage. Nicotinamide
significantly reduced neurological deficits even when treatment was delayed until 10
days after the induction of EAE.
DIRECT-MS Comments
These finding suggest that persons with MS would be wise to use an adequate daily
supplement of vitamin B3, often referred to as niacin. Niacin supplements can cause
flushing and thus a no-flush variety of niacin is recommended. Dosages of 500 mg to 2 g
have been used for lowering cholesterol. High dose niacin can affect the liver and may
exacerbate type 2 diabetes and thus one should discuss niacin supplementation with an
appropriate professional.