Supplement May Help Ease MS-Related Fatigue & Depression

By Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.N., C.N.S., C.B.T.

A widely available nutritional supplement appears to offer effective relief for fatigue and depression associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). The supplement is coenzyme Q10 – CoQ10, for short. The findings came out of a study conducted by Iranian nutritional researchers from the Tehran University of Medical Science. They randomly assigned 48 MS patients to take either CoQ10 (500 milligrams) or an inert placebo on a daily basis for a 12-week period. Afterward, they used standard testing methods to compare and quantify the degree of fatigue and depression in patients before, and at the end of the study.

The researchers reported a significant improvement in both fatigue and depression among the supplement takers. Among the placebo group there was an increase of fatigue.

My Viewpoint: CoQ10 is my favorite supplement and I have used it successfully for years to energize ailing and failing hearts among my cardiac patients, even in very serious cases. The new study, and the effect on MS, was new to me, but not surprising. CoQ10 is an essential raw material in the cellular production of adenosine triphosphate, a compound that fuels cellular activity. It is also a potent antioxidant. Thus it offers many therapeutic and prevention benefits that go beyond cardiovascular issues.

What This Means to You: Here’s another great application for CoQ10, which, unlike medical drugs, has no side effects. It is so beneficial for so many conditions, and I have written frequently about it. When a friend developed fatigue and depression related to MS, I automatically suggested CoQ10, but also added vitamin D, and Earthing, that is, connecting to the Earth’s natural, electric energy field. My friend experienced significant quality of life improvement within two weeks. His energy increased and he began to feel more joyful.

Recommendation: Take CoQ10 (300 mg daily with a meal). Ideally, add vitamin D (5,000 mg). Research on vitamin D has repeatedly linked low levels in the body to increased risk of MS. As far as Earthing is concerned, I regard it as a foundational factor for health that can restore a natural electrical state in the body, affecting the whole body, and can reduce inflammation. MS is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the nervous system.

Reference:

Sanoobar M, et al. Coenzyme Q10 as a treatment for fatigue and depression in multiple sclerosis patients: A double blind randomized clinical trial. Nutr Neurosci. Jan 2015.