A whole variety of minerals are sometimes recommended for people with MS. Some studies indicate that people with MS have low levels of specific minerals, such as magnesium, zinc, and copper. The meaning of these results is not known. Before 1935, some recommended therapies for MS actually involved supplements of minerals, including antimony, arsenic, mercury, potassium bromide, potassium iodide, and thorium. At this time, no published clinical studies demonstrate a definite therapeutic effect in MS with supplements of these minerals or with supplements of other minerals, including chromium, cobalt, copper, iodine, magnesium, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium (in various forms), and vanadium. Finally, gold or silver supplements have been recommended for MS. These are of no proven benefit, and silver supplements may actually produce serious toxic effects.
Other Minerals