Can a gut molecule shield nerve fibers in MS?
NCT ID NCT06402487
First seen Sep 15, 2026 · Last updated Sep 16, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers are testing whether propionic acid, a short-chain fatty acid, can slow nerve damage and ease fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis. The trial enrolls 101 adults aged 18 to 60 who have stable MS and signs of immune activity in their spinal fluid. Participants receive either propionic acid capsules or a placebo alongside their usual MS treatment. The study measures blood markers of nerve and brain cell damage, plus fatigue, walking speed, and quality of life.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- propionic acid, a short-chain fatty acid taken as a dietary supplement capsule
- What this could lead to
- If it works, propionic acid could become a low-cost supplement added to standard MS treatment to protect nerve fibers and reduce fatigue.
- What could go wrong
- This is a mid-stage trial in 101 people, so results may not hold in larger groups. Supplements can interact with other treatments, and the study may show no benefit over placebo.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 2/3
Runs two stages together: whether the treatment works, then large-scale confirmation.
- Participants
-
101 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
May 2024
- Finished
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Oct 2024
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) * Clinically and radiologically stable MS in the previous 3 months * Age between 18 and 60 years * Positive finding for oligoclonal bands (OCBs) * Written consent * Blood collection at the beginning and end of the study for routine parameter examination as well as sample preservation (especially for measuring propionic acid levels) * Negative pregnancy test for female participants of childbearing age Exclusion Criteria: * Existing propionic acid supplementation * Change in disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in the previous 4 weeks * Existing severe systemic diseases * Presence of other concomitant structural nerve diseases (e.g., polyneuropathy, brain tumor, strokes) * High JCV titer under Natalizumab
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Salzburger Landeskliniken
Salzburg, State of Salzburg, 5020, Austria
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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