Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Oct 15;15(10):e47058.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.47058. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Unraveling the Gut-Brain Axis in Multiple Sclerosis: Exploring Dysbiosis, Oxidative Stress, and Therapeutic Insights

Affiliations
Review

Unraveling the Gut-Brain Axis in Multiple Sclerosis: Exploring Dysbiosis, Oxidative Stress, and Therapeutic Insights

Mouhammad Sharifa et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

This comprehensive review delves into the intricate relationship between the gut microbiota and multiple sclerosis (MS), shedding light on the potential therapeutic avenues for this complex autoimmune disease. It emphasizes the multifactorial nature of MS, including genetic, environmental, and gender-related factors. Furthermore, the article highlights the emerging role of gut microbiota in MS pathophysiology, particularly in terms of gut dysbiosis, oxidative stress, and inflammasome activation within the gut-brain axis. This interplay raises intriguing questions about how the gut microbiota influences the onset and progression of MS. Environmental factors, such as diet and pollutants, add further layers of complexity to the connection between gut health and MS risk. This review also discusses promising therapeutic interventions, such as fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, dietary adjustments, and gut-derived metabolites that offer potential avenues for managing MS. It underscores the need for ongoing research to fully unravel the complexities of the role of the gut-brain axis in MS. Ultimately, this article provides a comprehensive exploration of the topic, offering hope for novel preventive and therapeutic strategies that could significantly improve the lives of individuals affected by this challenging autoimmune condition.

Keywords: dysbiosis; environmental factors; fecal microbiota transplantation; gut microbiota; gut-brain axis; inflammasome; oxidative stress; probiotics; s: multiple sclerosis; therapeutic interventions.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

References

    1. Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis worldwide: insights from the Atlas of MS, third edition. Walton C, King R, Rechtman L, et al. Mult Scler. 2020;26:1816–1821. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Decoding multiple sclerosis: an update on genomics and future directions. Oksenberg JR. Expert Rev Neurother. 2013;13:11–19. - PubMed
    1. Global, regional, and national burden of multiple sclerosis 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet Neurol. 2019;18:269–285. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Racial and ethnic disparities in multiple sclerosis prevalence. Langer-Gould AM, Gonzales EG, Smith JB, Li BH, Nelson LM. Neurology. 2022;98:0–27. - PMC - PubMed
    1. The role of gut microbiota in immune homeostasis and autoimmunity. Wu HJ, Wu E. Gut Microbes. 2012;3:4–14. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources