Biotin for progressive MS

Sedel F, Papeix C, Bellanger A, Touitou V, Lebrun-Frenay C, Galanaud D, Gout O, Lyon-Caen O, Tourbah A. High doses of biotin in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis: A pilot study.
Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2015 Mar;4(2):159-69

BACKGROUND: No drug has been found to have any impact on progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Biotin is a vitamin acting as a coenzyme for carboxylases involved in key steps of energy metabolism and fatty acids synthesis. Among others, biotin activates acetylCoA carboxylase, a potentially rate-limiting enzyme in myelin synthesis.
OBJECTIVES:The aim of this pilot study is to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of high doses of biotin in patients suffering from progressive MS.
STUDY DESIGN:Uncontrolled, non-blinded proof of concept study
METHODS:23 consecutive patients with primary and secondary progressive MS originated from three different French MS reference centres were treated with high doses of biotin (100-300mg/day) from 2 to 36 months (mean=9.2 months). Judgement criteria varied according to clinical presentations and included quantitative and qualitative measures.
RESULTS:In four patients with prominent visual impairment related to optic nerve injury, visual acuity improved significantly. Visual evoked potentials in two patients exhibited progressive reappearance of P100 waves, with normalization of latencies in one case. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) in one case showed a progressive normalization of the Choline/Creatine ratio. One patient with left homonymous hemianopia kept on improving from 2 to 16 months following treatment׳s onset. Sixteen patients out of 18 (89%) with prominent spinal cord involvement were considered as improved as confirmed by blinded review of videotaped clinical examination in 9 cases. In all cases improvement was delayed from 2 to 8 months following treatment׳s onset.
CONCLUSIONS:These preliminary data suggest that high doses of biotin might have an impact on disability and progression in progressive MS. Two double-blind placebo-controlled trials are on going.

Biotin, also known as vitamin H or coenzyme R, is a water-soluble B-vitamin (vitamin B7). Biotin is a coenzyme forcarboxylase enzymes, involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, isoleucine, and valine, and in gluconeogenesis.The only human health condition for which there is strong evidence of biotin's potential benefit as a treatment isbiotin deficiency.

I am not going to comment on the content of this paper you can make of it what you will, it tells us very little for so many different reasons. However the final sentence is what is important. In fact I understand one (in 150 people) of the two trials have already finished and the results will be reported at the AAN on the April 24th. So if it works then the truth will be out in 1 month. The second trial finishes end of 2015.

So there you have it super Biotin MD1003 which is a highly-concentrated pharmaceutical-grade biotin (vitamin H). The dosage is 300 mg/day corresponding to 10,000 times the recommended daily intake of biotin. As such, MD1003 is no longer a food supplement: because of potential toxicity and new therapeutic properties at this dosage, it is an active pharmaceutical ingredient.

What will happen if the trial is a success will you wait for the drug to be developed as for the nutriceutical 100 10mg Biotin tablets are about £7 or less for health food stores online so about £2.50 a day. What will happen?

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