Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Glyconutrients
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system, which normally helps to fight off infections, mistakes the body's own tissue for a foreign body, such as infectious bacteria, and attacks it. MS is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system. The body's immune system attacks the fatty substance that surrounds and protects the nerve fibres of the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord. This fatty substance is the myelin and the damaged myelin forms scar tissue known as lesions or plaques. These plaques give rise to its name - the word scleroisis comes from the Greek 'skleros' meaning hard, describing the plaques, lesions and scars that develop in 'multiple' places. In many cases it is not just the myelin that is damaged but the nerve fibre as well. When any part of the myelin sheath or nerve fibre is damaged or destroyed, nerve impulses to and from the brain are distorted or interrupted.
As the central nervous system links all bodily activities, many different types of symptoms can appear in MS. The specific symptoms that appear depend on which part of the central nervous system is affected and the role of the damaged or destroyed nerve. Symptoms may vary greatly form person to person and vary over time in the same person. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of the disease cannot be predicted; symptoms may range from tingling and numbness to paralysis and blindness, and include: fatigue, loss of balance and muscle coordination, slurred speech, tremors, stiffness, bladder and bowel problems, difficulty walking, short-term memory loss, and mood swings.
Twice as many women as men have MS, with the onset of symptoms occurring most often between the ages of 20 and 40 tears. It is estimated that 2.5 million people in the world have MS.
Ms has been linked to the inability to absorb the glyconutrient xylose or the presence of abnormal glyconutrient galactose molecules. The myelin sheath that covers our nerves and is attacked by immune cells in MS contain galactose. Because of this, supplementation with glyconutrients, in particular galactose and xylose, may have a corrective effect for MS sufferers.
For all people not just those with multiple sclerosis (MS), glyconutrients form the basic cellular language of all cells. Cells require adequate amounts of glyconutrients to allow cells to communicate 'correctly'. These nutrients are known to improve the immune system function, organ function and improve basic body physiology. If cells cannot communicate correctly they cannot function correctly or stay healthy. Glyconutrients for cell communication are pivotal no matter what other supplements are included in the diet.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this medical condition section is strictly educational and not intended as medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders, consult your health care professional.
Copyright 2005 Glyconutrients Reference - Last Updated May 2005
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