Biotin is the basis of treatment ?

[JerryD]

I read an article from a European news agency that says a French drug company has completed clinical trials with a drug using large doses of Biotin to treat progressive MS shows positive results. My brain fog is stopping me from getting much more info. I wonder if there are any others that see something in these trial results?

[Seasha]

Hey Jerry -

Marco just recently posted an article about clinic trials of the use of Biotin for progressive MS - http://www.msworld.org/forum/showthr...-Trial-Results

There are many articles online you can read. Instead of listing them all, just use the search words "Biotin treatment for progressive MS"

"In a pilot study of 23 people with primary and secondary progressive MS, up to 90% of the participants showed clinical improvement over time. This provides hope that the treatment will be successful, but larger studies are needed both to assure that MD1003 is effective, and for regulatory approval. Following positive Phase III clinical trials the medication may be made available for prescribing and use by people with MS."

http://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.co...nnual-meeting/

The results will be presented to The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, Washington DC on Friday April 24th at 1200 EST.

Sounds hopeful, but I will be waiting for a larger study myself!

[JerryD]

Thanks. I feel confident that Marco has a handle on these developments. I just wanted to note that there was some research activity , albeit European activity NOT U.S., happening to help progressive MSer's. I need to feel that there is some movement in researching treatments for SPMS and PPMS.
It disturbs me that 'progressive' forms of MS have been largely ignored for these many years !

[Marco]

I'm confident that after this weeks AAN meeting that we'll have more information. The premature news sounds exciting, but as a community we need more information.

Biotin is already available on the marketplace, but we'd need to horse down at least 6-60 pills to reach the levels in the study. Because Biotin is already available, it could potentially be quickly available to patients. The Progressive MS patients should definitely be considered "under served" by the FDA so that may also help.


I would certainly caution patients not to start ingesting 10,000 times of any vitamin without first talking to their medical team. Next week, I have an appointment with my neurologist and I certainly plan on discussing this with her (printed articles in hand).

[JerryD]

I am going to a dinner event sponsored by Aubagio on Wednesday where the scheduled featured speaker is a fairly well known MS specialist. I will pay particular attention to the Q&A that night.
I hope the discussion turns toward 'new treatments on the horizon'. It could be interesting, for once.

[Sissy]

I can't wait to read more on that. I have been on any 10,000mcg for years. Mainly for hair loss!

[JerryD]

Thanks, Sissy. I can't wait for something from the AAN press office. The meeting was yesterday, I wonder how much time the press office needs to put out something. So you have been taking 10,000 mcg's daily? How has that been going? Any noticeable negative side effects?

[jreagan70]

10,000 micrograms is only 10 milligrams. It's an OTC amount and a small fraction of the amount of biotin used in the French study.

And nobody has to wait for information to come out of the AAN meeting. The study was already published weeks ago. I posted a link to it under the other biotin thread.

[JerryD]

I know that the amounts of biotin used in the study was hundreds of thousands, I don't know if that number is mcg or mg. The US RDA for adults is 30mcg to 100mcg. I guess that means that the study used 100,000 mcg or more. I wonder if there were any adverse side effects reported. This shouldn't be as difficult as it is to get the clear story. Anyone have any suggestions for an adult dose over 30 to 100 mcg daily? I don't want to 'thumb my nose' at the RDA/FDA, so I won't use a dose over 100mcg.

[Seasha]

Jerry - according to this link, http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...y#.VT0R8WbR1z1

"MedDay, a biotechnology company focused on the treatment of nervous system disorders, today announced positive results from the pivotal Phase III clinical trial, MS-SPI. The study demonstrated evidence of the efficacy and safety of MD1003, a highly-concentrated pharmaceutical-grade biotin administered at a dose of 300 mg per day in the treatment of primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, a major area of unmet medical need.

There will be a webcast on Tue. April 28th - more information in this link about how to call and be a part of it!

[JerryD]

Yes, I understand that the tested dose was 300mg. I just want to get it clear that 300mg equals 300,000 mcg. The US RDA for adults is between 30 and 100 mcg. So the study amounts many multiples higher than the 'recommended' dose. I am just trying to get the math straight. I am trying to understand what dosage of Biotin I should try. I see it is sold at the local vitamin store.

[jreagan70]

I know that the amounts of biotin used in the study was hundreds of thousands, I don't know if that number is mcg or mg.

It's important to know which value was used, because micrograms and milligrams differ by a factor of one thousand.

This shouldn't be as difficult as it is to get the clear story.

It's not as hard as it seems. It sounds like the mention of biotin in micrograms vs. milligrams threw you off track.

One milligram is one thousand micrograms. Turned around, one microgram is one thousandth of a milligram. 1 mcg = 0.001 mg 1mg = 1000 micrograms

The study has nothing to do with recommended daily amount (RDA) so the researchers didn't use micrograms. They used the more convenient amount of milligrams. That allows them to use a value that doesn't require so many zeroes in the numbers. So they didn't have to state the amounts in values of hundreds of thousands (and in fact, never did).

The study (http://www.msard-journal.com/article...006-1/fulltext) used amounts of biotin from 100 to 300 milligrams per day.

An unofficial recommendation of biotin for adults is 30 micrograms per day. That's 0.03 milligram per day. 30 mcg = 0.03 mg

0.03 mg vs. 300 mg is a huge difference. It's the difference between having a penny and having a $10 bill.

The US RDA for adults is 30mcg to 100mcg. so I won't use a dose over 100mcg.

Recommended daily amounts refers to TOTAL daily intake from all sources. It doesn't mean that that's the amount someone needs to supplement. If you're already taking a multivitamin, it probably already contains 30 mcg of biotin. Add to that the amount of biotin you get from food, you're already getting, and maybe surpassing, the RDA.

If you want to add a supplement, it will be difficult for you to limit it to 100 mcg per day because that dose is so small that it isn't even available as a separate supplement. But it is available in 300 micrograms.

Just to do the math, the maximum amount of biotin used in the study comes to 300,000 mcg per day. But, remember, it was never stated in micrograms in the study or any news reports. You're seeing it that way for the first time here. I hope it clears up any confusion about mg and mcg.

[Sissy]

Hi Jerry's sorry I have not responded. This shingles has really pulled me down. I mainly take the biotin for my nails and hair. Vain for a 66 yr old I guess LOL, but with all my body has been through the last 25 yrs it needs all the help it can get. Prior to biotin my hair and nails were thinner and not growing. Now both are stronger. So if it helps with this problem then I can see it helping other areas of the biology.

Excuse my terminology and spelling errors! My brain is in a constant fog these days.

[durgastiger]

Taking Biotin < High potency

Hey Jerry D!
How have you been? Haven't bene on in awhile.

I read a similar article awhile ago and ordered some off line.
I feel like my energy levels are higher, my hair is shiny, and my nails grow like crazy.

[JerryD]

Hi right back, durgastiger, I have been ok. Could be a lot better! Haven't seen you around in a little while. I have been using 10,000 mcg capsules, once daily by Solgar for about week. Which Biotin product do you use? Where do you order from?