Oct 3 2011
Suppress immune attacks in MS with a dietary supplement
The chemical formula for GlcNAc (glucosamine)
The damaging autoimmune response that is often seen in MS (multiple sclerosis), has been found to be suppressed by a dietary supplement that is similar to glucosamine. This has brought hope to those hoping to find a new treatment for autoimmune diseases.
The study was carried out by the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and researchers had discovered that oral N-acetylglucosamine had prevented abnormal T-cells from developing and and functioning correctly. In people with Multiple Sclerosis, it is these abnormal cells that are wrongly instructing the body’s immune system to destroy the tissue that insulates the nerves. Though similar to the widely available glucosamine, N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) is more effective.
N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) is actually a sugar based supplement. It works by correcting a genetic defect that causes cells to attack the body in in Multiple Sclerosis. This discovery could lead to a new metabolic therapy that is different to treatments that are currently available.
For this study, the researchers used mice that had been bred to have an autoimmune disease that is similar to multiple sclerosis. The mice had been give an oral dose of GlcNAc and they noticed that the mice whose legs had become weakened due to the disease had experienced of a reversion of the progression to paralysis.
The researchers had managed to suppress any T-cell hyperactivity or autoimmune response by increasing the sugar modifications to the T-cell proteins. This discovery has shown that there is potential for using dietary supplements as metabolic therapy for a number of autoimmune diseases.
What are you opinions on the effects of dietary supplements on MS? Let us know in the comments section below.
