Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Vitamin D3 Intake Improves Health of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

by | Jul 14, 2020 | 2018, Multiple Sclerosis, Omega - 3, Vitamin D - General

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. A 12-week co-administration of high-dose omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin D3 significantly improved disability scores, mental health, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and metabolic status in patients with MS.

fats and oils - omega 3Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting the central nervous system, primarily in young and middle-aged adults 1. This chronic disease is characterized by increased levels of inflammation and oxidative stress 2, and in certain patients, may include abnormal elevations in serum insulin and insulin resistance 3. As a result, many complications are associated with MS, including cardiovascular disease and dyslipidemia 4. Interventions studies in this population have typically focused on dietary changes such as the incorporation of fish oil supplements to help attenuate inflammation levels 5,6. One study reports that administration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in MS patients over a period of 2 years was able to significantly decrease scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 7. Other trials have also looked at vitamin D supplementation for its apparent ability to decrease oxidative stress and improve metabolic health 8,9. While the combined supplementation of omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin D has been studied in other populations 10, in MS patients, further research is needed. Thus, in a 2018 study 11 published in The Journal of Nutrition, researchers explored the potential synergistic benefits of omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin D co-supplementation in MS patients.

A total of 53 MS patients (mean age = 34.3 years) with relapsing-remitting MS and an EDSS score less than 4.5 were enrolled in a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which they were randomized to receive either omega-3 fatty acid capsules (500 mg DHA and 106 mg EPA) plus vitamin D3 (50,000 IU/biweekly) or placebo sunflower oil capsules twice daily for 12 weeks. At baseline and at the end of 12 weeks, EDSS scores were assessed and blood samples collected to determine lipid profile (total cholesterol, TC; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-C), serum insulin and insulin resistance (homeostatic model of insulin resistance, HOMA-IR), and biomarkers of oxidative stress (total antioxidant capacity, TAC; glutathione, GSH; malondialdehyde, MDA; high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, hs-CRP).

Relative to placebo, co-supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin D3 for 12 weeks resulted in a significant improvement on a number of study parameters, including EDSS (p = 0.01), serum hs-CRP (p < 0.001), plasma TAC (p = 0.02), GSH (p = 0.007), and MDA (p < 0.001). Significant reductions were also seen in serum insulin (p = 0.008), HOMA-IR (p = 0.01), and total/HDL-C (p = 0.04) for the supplemented group vs. placebo, and significant relative increases in insulin sensitivity (p = 0.008) and HDL-C concentrations (p = 0.009) were observed.

The current study provides initial evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of co-administering high-dose omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin D3 to patients with MS. Co-supplementation over a period of 12 weeks led to significant improvement in a range of clinical variables, including EDSS score, lipid profile, and biomarkers of oxidative stress. Metabolic status of MS patients, specifically insulin metabolism, was also positively impacted. Findings will need to be replicated in other subtypes of MS, but current evidence suggests a valuable synergistic effect associated with omega-3 and vitamin D3 co-supplementation in MS patients. One notable limitation of the study pertains to the failure to evaluate circulating fatty acid profiles before and after the intervention.

Source: Kouchaki E, Afarini M, Abolhassani J, et al. High-dose omega-3 fatty acid plus vitamin D3 supplementation affects clinical symptoms and metabolic status of patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled clinical trial. The Journal of Nutrition. 2018; 148(8): 1380-1386. DOI: 10.109/jn/nxy116.

© 2018 American Society for Nutrition. All rights reserved

Posted July 14, 2020.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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