The Science of MS Supplements

Many individuals living with multiple sclerosis are interested in whether vitamins, supplements, and nutrition strategies can influence disease activity, symptoms, and long-term outcomes. With so much information circulating online, it can be difficult to separate meaningful evidence from hopeful theory. Patients deserve clarity, balance, and up-to-date scientific insight.

In this episode of MS Living Well podcast, we explore the latest research on dietary fatty acids, vitamin D supplementation, and the broader role of nutrition in MS care. The discussion includes findings from both large prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled clinical trials, highlighting what appears promising, what remains uncertain, and what still requires further study.

Topics covered include potential roles for plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, differences between fish-derived and plant-derived fatty acids, vitamin D dosing considerations, and key caution points when interpreting supplement research. The conversation offers a science-forward perspective that empowers patients and clinicians to make informed choices alongside proven MS therapies.

This episode is sponsored by TG Therapeutics.

Dr. Jamie Holloman, neurologist at the MS Center for Innovations in Care, interviews two leading experts in this area:

Marianna Cortese MD PhD

Marianna Cortese MD PhD is a Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.  She earned her medical degree from the University of Heidelberg in Germany and completed her Ph.D. in Epidemiology at the University of Bergen in Norway.  Dr. Cortese is an MS researcher and epidemiologist focused on nutrition who has published extensively on dietary factors, biomarkers, and disease outcomes.

Prof. Éric Thouvenot

Professor Éric Thouvenot is Head of the Neurology Department at Nîmes University Hospital in France and researcher at the Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle. He served as principal investigator of the D-Lay MS trial evaluating high-dose vitamin D in early MS.