Researchers have reported the use of thyroid hormone as a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis. The animal studies found that thyroid hormone might protect against further nerve damage and facilitate more rapid repair of damaged nerve fibers.
In particular, use of thyroid hormone during early nerve damage could help protect the important myelin sheath -- the insulation that surrounds neurons -- and create precursor cells prepared to form new myelin sheaths in damaged nerves.
Loss of myelin is the key problem in multiple sclerosis. According to the researchers thyroid hormones could have a role in potentiating reluctant myelination by inducing (precursor cells) to differentiate into myelinating (cells) during a specific phase of the disease.
While thyroid hormone appears to be an exciting new adjunctive therapy it is in no way one of the primary forms of treatment. Clearly one of the most important approaches for MS is to normalize vitamin D and DHA and EPA levels. One of the keys is to prevent MS is to make sure that you have enough exposure to the sun to make sure your vitamin D levels are adequate. If you already have MS it is vital that you regularly monitor your vitamin D level so it is between 45 and 50.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nov. 16, 2004; vol 101: pp 16363-16368