Powered By
Living with myasthenia gravis, which weakens muscles and makes them tire more easily, you may be looking for ways you can feel better and have more energy. Vitamins and other supplements can advertise benefits, but some can interfere with medications or even make myasthenia gravis symptoms worse. Which are safe, and which should be avoided?
The answer isn’t straightforward, and it’s always wisest to talk to your myasthenia gravis specialist before trying anything new.
In this article, we’ll cover six vitamins and supplements that may aggravate myasthenia gravis symptoms, as well as other options that can help support muscle function and overall health.
Sign up to view the results!
Continue with Facebook
Continue with Email
Magnesium helps muscles relax. But for people living with myasthenia gravis, this effect can be a problem.
Since myasthenia gravis causes muscle weakness, too much magnesium can actually make symptoms worse. In some cases, magnesium supplementation can even trigger a myasthenic crisis — a serious condition where breathing muscles become too weak to work properly.
High magnesium intake or supplementation can counteract pyridostigmine (Mestinon), a commonly used medication to treat myasthenia gravis. The purpose of the medication is to help muscles contract. But magnesium works against this process, and so can interfere with symptom management. The biggest concern is intravenous (IV) magnesium, which is often only given in hospitals for other conditions.
Most people with myasthenia gravis don’t need to avoid magnesium-rich foods like nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens. Also, the small amounts found in multivitamins usually aren’t harmful. If you’re considering a magnesium supplement, talk to your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you.
Vitamin D is important for strong bones and supporting your immune system. However, taking too high a dose of vitamin D supplements can lead to high calcium levels in the blood.
High blood calcium levels can cause muscle weakness, which people with myasthenia gravis are already more likely to experience.
People with myasthenia gravis who take high doses of vitamin D supplements may have a higher risk of hypercalcemia. This may be due to how medications used to treat myasthenia gravis, such as corticosteroids like prednisone, affect the body.
These myasthenia gravis treatments can reduce how much calcium your body absorbs, as well as how calcium and vitamin D are used by the body.
While moderate amounts of vitamin D can provide benefits, it’s important to stick to the recommended daily amount. Check with your doctor before taking high doses (more than 4,000 international units daily).
Taking too much vitamin D for a long time can also lead to kidney problems. Follow your doctor’s guidance to ensure you’re getting a safe and effective amount.
Zinc is often recommended to support the immune system. But in autoimmune diseases like myasthenia gravis, boosting immune activity might also contribute to worsening symptoms.
Zinc may potentially interfere with immunosuppressants like mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine, which help manage myasthenia gravis symptoms by calming the immune system. However, this interaction hasn’t been formally established.
This potential link means that high-dose zinc supplements (more than 40 milligrams daily for adults) should be used with caution. In other words, skip high-dose zinc supplements unless your doctor recommends them due to a deficiency or other specific dietary needs.
Zinc is an important nutrient, but people with myasthenia gravis should try to stick to natural sources. Foods like legumes, shellfish, meat, and poultry are healthy sources of zinc.
Echinacea is a common herbal supplement used to support the immune system. It’s found in teas, immune-support supplements, and some cold and flu remedies.
Because echinacea may affect immune system activity, people with myasthenia gravis may want to avoid it as a precaution. However, there’s not enough research to know for sure whether echinacea can worsen myasthenia gravis symptoms.
Echinacea might also interact with immunosuppressive drugs, possibly making them less effective. However, this effect hasn’t been proven. If you take an immunosuppressant for myasthenia gravis, talk with your doctor before taking echinacea.
Instead of relying on echinacea, focus on eating a nutrient-rich diet, getting enough sleep, and practicing good hygiene to support the immune system.
Some herbal blends and teas may contain echinacea without clearly listing it on packaging. Check supplement labels carefully and purchase them from a reputable source before taking them.
Melatonin is a popular supplement for sleep support, but it can also affect the immune system in complex ways.
Studies have shown melatonin can both contribute to inflammation and help relieve it. Because of this, it’s not clear how melatonin supplements may affect people with autoimmune conditions like myasthenia gravis.
Melatonin might also interact with certain medications like immunosuppressants. If you take these medications for myasthenia gravis, talk with your doctor before taking melatonin.
If you have trouble sleeping, try alternatives like:
Creatine is a compound found in meat and fish. Creatine supplements are commonly used by athletes to build muscle strength and improve performance.
However, there is limited research on creatine supplements in people with myasthenia gravis, so it’s unclear whether creatine may be helpful or harmful.
One case study found that creatine alongside exercise improved muscle strength for a 26-year-old man with myasthenia gravis. However, a single case report involving a younger male does not rule out potential risks for other individuals with myasthenia gravis across differing age groups, genders, or treatment regimens. Larger studies are necessary to support safe use in people with myasthenia gravis.
If you want to build strength while living with myasthenia gravis, a physical therapist can help create a safe exercise plan that fits your needs.
Supplements can help support your overall health, but they don’t treat underlying conditions. Luckily, there are more treatment options for myasthenia gravis than ever before.
Myasthenia gravis treatments aim to help control symptoms and improve muscle strength. Treatment options include:
Work with your healthcare provider to find the treatment plan that’s right for you.
Certain vitamins and nutrients may help support your overall health by helping to correct nutrient deficiencies or providing other benefits. Although these aren’t established treatments for myasthenia gravis, they may offer potential benefits to people with the condition by improving general health.
Talk to your neurologist or another healthcare provider before adding any supplements to your routine to make sure they’re safe and appropriate for you.
Vitamin B12 Vitamin B12 supports nerve health and energy production. A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause fatigue and weakness and can keep the nervous system from working properly.
If you’re deficient, getting enough B12 may help improve these muscle-related symptoms. However, there’s no evidence that B12 supplements improve myasthenia gravis itself.
Multivitamins contain B12, as do many foods. Dietary sources of B12 include meat, fish, dairy, and eggs.
Calcium and Recommended Doses of Vitamin D Calcium and vitamin D work together to keep bones strong. This benefit is especially important for people with myasthenia gravis who take long-term corticosteroids, such as prednisone, which can increase the risk of osteoporosis (bone loss).
Coenzyme Q10 Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant that plays a role in energy production and muscle function. Some research suggests it may help with muscle health, but it hasn’t been shown to specifically benefit people with myasthenia gravis.
This supplement may interact with medications commonly used to manage other chronic diseases. Check with your healthcare provider before starting this supplement.
L-Carnitine L-carnitine is an amino acid, or building block of protein. It helps move fatty acids into the mitochondria (the part of cells that makes energy).
One case report suggested targeted treatments for myasthenia gravis may be more effective alongside supplementation for those with carnitine deficiency. But more research is needed to understand the supplement’s effects outside of deficiencies.
Curcumin Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric extract, has anti-inflammatory effects. Research on curcumin and myasthenia gravis is in the early stages and mostly comes from animal studies.
So, while these studies suggest curcumin may affect inflammation and immune activity related to myasthenia gravis, it hasn’t been shown to improve myasthenia gravis in people.
Turmeric can be used as a spice to add flavor to foods and beverages, providing a natural way to incorporate curcumin into your diet.
Unlike prescription drugs, supplements generally don’t need U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for safety and effectiveness before they’re sold. This means that their quality and ingredients can vary. Choose reputable brands with third-party testing whenever possible.
Supplements can interact with medications or cause side effects. It’s important to talk to your doctor before adding one to your routine.
Get updates directly to your inbox.
Is there a good mens multivitamin
Continue with Facebook
Continue with Email
Continue with Facebook
Continue with Email
Become a member to get even more
Join
Your Privacy Choices
This is a member-feature!
Sign up for free to view article comments.
AMEN, doctors who listen and allow you to advocate for yourself are few and far between!
We'd love to hear from you! Please share your name and email to post and read comments.
You'll also get the latest articles directly to your inbox.