Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology
Iron and the folate-vitamin B12-methylation pathway in multiple sclerosis
Metabolic Brain Disease, Volume 21, No. 2-3, Year 2006
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
Some subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS) present with low blood iron parameters. Anecdotal reports and a single patient study suggest that iron supplementation may be beneficial in these subjects. Myelin is regenerated continually, but prerequisites for this process are iron and a functional folate-vitamin B12-methylation pathway. The aim of this study was to determine iron status, folate and homocysteine in MS subjects, and to evaluate the effect on MS symptoms if deficiencies were addressed. Results: In relapsing-remitting MS subjects, serum iron concentration correlated significantly with age at diagnosis (r = 0.49; p = 0.008). In Caucasian female MS subjects, serum iron and ferritin concentrations were significantly lower than in matched controls. In a 6-month pilot study, 12 subjects taking a regimen of nutritional supplements designed to promote myelin regeneration, improved significantly neurologically as measured by the Kurzke EDSS (Total Score means 3.50 to 2.45, 29.9%; p = 0.021). These were significantly improved (p = 0.002) compared to 6 control group patients taking multivitamins (Kurzke Score increased by 13.9% from 4.83 to 5.50). Both groups had significantly reduced homocysteine concentrations at 6 months, suggesting that methylation is necessary but not sufficient for myelin regeneration. © Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006.
Authors & Co-Authors
van Rensburg, Susan Janse
South Africa, Tygerberg
Tygerberg Hospital
Kotze, Maritha J.
South Africa, Cape Town
Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital
Hon, Gloudina Maria
South Africa, Tygerberg
Tygerberg Hospital
Haug, P.
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
Kuyler, J.
South Africa, Parow
Panorama Medi-clinic
Hendricks, Michael K.
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
Botha, J.
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
Potocnik, Felix C.V.
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
Matsha, Tandi Edith
South Africa, Tygerberg
Tygerberg Hospital
Erasmus, Rajiv Timothy
South Africa, Tygerberg
Tygerberg Hospital
Statistics
Citations: 53
Authors: 10
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/s11011-006-9019-0
e-ISSN:
15737365
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Participants Gender
Female