Multiple sclerosis (MS) and Natural Supplements: What the Latest Research Says About Nanocurcumin and Alpha Lipoic Acid
Recent clinical research suggests that two supplements: 1) Nanocurcumin + 2) Alpha lipoic acid
· Reduce inflammation
· Regulate the immune system
· Improve the quality of life
in people with multiple sclerosis
While they are not a cure and should not replace medical treatment, human studies in people with multiple sclerosis have shown encouraging results, particularly when highly bioavailable forms are used.
What is Multiple sclerosis (MS)
MS is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system ( brain and spinal cord) disease where your immune system attacks myelin, causing numbness, weakness, and trouble walking and much more. MS affects abut 2.5 million people worldwide, including me, Dr. Conor Kerley, Phytophix founder and MS nutrition expert! I was diagnosed in 2003 shortly after my 16th birthday after having my first symptoms in 2002 aged 15 and 3 relapses in total. I started on medication for about 3 to 4 months but stopped them due to side effects which were affecting me in school. Now in 2026, 24 years later I am symptom free, relapse free and medication free. I put this down to living a healthy lifestyle, including good nutrition and science based supplements. Anyway, enough about me!
Why Are Scientists Interested in Nutrition and specific nutrients for MS?
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease associated with:
- inflammation
- oxidative stress
- immune dysfunction
Certain nutritional strategies, including food supplements can target and improve all 4 of these areas and hence may provide significant benefit to women with multiple sclerosis.
At a Glance: What Does Human Research Show?
There are 4 human studies regarding nanocurcumin supplementation in people with multiple sclerosis (not lab studies or studies in animals)
Across these 4 published human studies, nanocurcumin supplementation has consistently been associated with improvements in people with multiple sclerosis.
Nanocurcumin supplementation in multiple sclerosis had the following benefits:
· Immune regulation
· Inflammation regulation
With these different clinical research studies in people with MS concluding:
‘nanocurcumin is able to restore the expression pattern of dysregulated miRNAs in MS patients’ – this means better immune function
‘nanocurcumin is able to restore the dysregulated of Th17 cells in MS patients’ – this means leas inflammation
“nanocurcumin is capable of restoring the frequency and function of Treg cells in MS patients’ this means better inflammation and immune regulation
In addition, there are 12 human studies regarding alpha lipoic acid supplementation in people with multiple sclerosis (not lab studies or studies in animals)
Across these 12 published human studies, alpha lipoic acid supplementation has consistently been associated with improvements in people with multiple sclerosis
Alpha Lipoic acid supplementation in multiple sclerosis had the following benefits:
· Reduced brain destruction (brain atrophy)
· Reduced disability
· Improved mobility (timed up and go)
· Reduced disability (EDSS)
· Quicker turning time when walking
· Reduced inflammation
· Reduced oxidative stress
· Improved blood vessel health
· With these different clinical research studies in people with MS concluding:
Alpha Lipoic Acid may prove useful in treating MS by inhibiting inflammation activity and interfering with immune cell migration into the CNS.
Alpha Lipoic Acid improves antioxidant capcity among multiple sclerosis patients
Alpha Lipoic Acid beneficially affects several inflammatory cytokines’
‘Alpha Lipoic Acid demonstrated a 68% reduction in annual brain destruction (brain atrophy) and suggested a clinical benefit in MS while maintaining favorable safety, tolerability, and compliance over 2 years’
‘Alpha Lipoic Acid had a benefit on walking performance in people with MS’
Whole-brain volume seemed stable in LA participants, whereas it trended toward a decrease in placebo, even after accounting for an increased total T2-weighted lesion volume that was greater in the LA group. Deep gray matter volume remained stable in LA participants and decreased in placebo participants.
At Phytaphix, we know the science!
That’s why we’ve built the MS bundle
Our Evidence-Based MS Bundle
Graphic of the below (to be easily understood + sharable)
Gold Standard Curcumin: 80mg nanocurcumin with essential micronutrients (including 400mcg methylfolate, vitamin B12 + vitamin D3 )
- Delivers highly bioavailable nanocurcumin
- One capsule daily, with food
Lipoic Acid Phix: 300mg R-alpha lipoic acid with ginger extract and essential micronutrients
- Delivers naturally occurring R-alpha lipoic acid
- One capsule daily, anytime
· Gold Standard Curcumin – one capsule daily
· Lipoic Acid Phix – one capsule daily
For the scientific details, see below:
Curcumin and multiple sclerosis
Laboratory and animal studies have consistently shown that curcumin influences many of the biological processes involved in multiple sclerosis
Research suggests curcumin may help:
· ?
· Casc
· Cac
These findings are encouraging because migraine is characterised by pain and oxidative stress.
However, laboratory research alone does not prove that a supplement will work in people. So what does the human research show?
Curcumin supplementation in people with multiple sclerosis
As of writing, there are NO studies examining turmeric or curcumin supplementation in people with multiple sclerosis. So taking turmeric or even curcumin supplements is unlikely to help MS.
The Problem with Standard Curcumin
One of the biggest challenges with conventional curcumin supplements is that very little is absorbed after it is swallowed.
This poor absorption means that although curcumin has impressive biological activity in laboratory studies, much less reaches the bloodstream and tissues in humans where it can have benefit.
This may help explain why clinical studies using standard curcumin have often produced disappointing results.
Nanocurcumin: A Better Form of Curcumin
Nanocurcumin is designed to overcome one of the biggest limitations of conventional curcumin by dramatically improving its absorption.
Because the curcumin particles are much smaller, more of the active compound can reach the bloodstream and the tissues where it is needed and can have benefit.
This improved bioavailability has led researchers to investigate whether nanocurcumin may produce better clinical outcomes from standard curcumin.
Nanocurcumin and other brain issues
- nanocurcumin and migraine
Nanocurcumin and inflammation
But about what nanocurcumin and multiple sclerosis?
Clinical Research on Nanocurcumin and Multiple sclerosis
Study Snapshot 1
Participants
50 patients with MS
Intervention
80mg nanocurcumin daily
6 months
Researchers found
People with MS had abnormal microRNAs (miRNAs)
Nanocurcumin was able to normalise 18 miRNAs!
Study Snapshot 2
Participants
25 patients with MS
Intervention
80mg nanocurcumin daily
6 months
Researchers found
People with MS had abnormal Th17 levels
People with MS had abnormal IL-17A and RORγt expression
Nanocurcumin was able to normalise Th17, IL-17A and RORγt.
Study Snapshot 3
50 patients with MS
Intervention
80mg nanocurcumin daily
6 months
Researchers found
Beneficial changes in expression levels of microRNAs
Dramatic reduction in levels of inflammation
Study Snapshot 4
50 patients with MS
Intervention
80mg nanocurcumin daily
6months
Researchers found
People with MS had reduced number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) which regulate immunity & inflammation
People with MS had reduced expression of anti-inflammatory cells: TGF-β, IL-10 and FoxP3
Nanocurcumin was able to increase Tregs and expression of anti-inflammatory cells: TGF-β, IL-10 and FoxP3
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