Exley C et al. (2006) Elevated urinary excretion of aluminium and iron in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler 12: 533–540

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to result from a combination of environmental factors and genetic susceptibility, and some evidence suggests that oxidative damage might mediate the inflammatory response associated with the disease. In a recent study reported in Multiple Sclerosis, researchers investigated the urinary levels of iron and aluminum in patients with MS; their results indicate that both metals might play a part in the condition.

Exley and colleagues carried out an analysis of urine samples from 10 patients with secondary progressive MS, 10 patients with relapsing–remitting MS and 10 control subjects. Using spectroscopy, they determined the total urinary concentrations of aluminum and its antagonist silicon, and of iron.

The median urine iron and aluminum concentrations were higher in patients with MS than in controls. Both increases reached significance for patients with secondary progressive MS (P <0.01 and P <0.05, respectively); the increase in aluminum was also significant in patients with relapsing–remitting MS (P <0.001), with levels reaching those usually found in patients undergoing metal chelation therapy. Silicon urine concentrations were lower in patients with MS than in controls.

The authors suggest that the increased urinary iron excretion in patients with MS lends support to the hypothesis that brain iron metabolism is disrupted in this disorder. They note that aluminum could also be involved in MS disease progression, and propose that, if this is the case, an increase in the dietary intake of silicon might be a therapeutic option for the disease.