Is high-dose biotin an effective adjunctive therapy for treating multiple sclerosis? Original paper

Biotin may play a role in repairing and synthesizing myelin and preventing neurodegeneration, making it a supplement of interest as an adjunct treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). This meta-analysis sought to explore the safety and effectiveness of high-dose biotin (HDB) on various physical and cognitive outcomes related to MS.

This meta-analysis of 3 randomized controlled trials included 889 total participants with MS (both progressive and relaxing/remitting MS) and explored the use of HDB (at least 300 mg/day for at least 3 months) as an MS adjunctive treatment.

The primary outcome was improvements in MS-related disability or a decrease (improvement) from baseline of at least 20% in the 25-foot walk time. The secondary outcomes were various measures of disease severity, including changes in motor control and fatigue, the participants' quality of life, and adverse event reports.

There was a moderate certainty of evidence that supported an association between HDB supplementation and improvements in the 25-foot walk time but only in participants with progressive MS. However, the researchers encountered irregularities in handling and analysis of the HDB samples, indicating that guidance should be provided to clinicians and laboratory staff for prevention and detection of this potential issue.

The researchers note that the true effects of HDB on MS symptoms may not be reflected in this analysis due to the small number of and variability between the trials.