Complementary Therapies in Medicine (2009) 17, 216—223
available at www.sciencedirect.com
journal homepage: www.elsevierhealth.com/journals/ctim
Complementary and alternative medicines and
dietary interventions in multiple sclerosis:
What is being used in South Australia and why?
E.M. Leong
a
, S.J. Semple
a,*
, M. Angley
a
, W. Siebert
b
,
J. Petkov
c
, R.A. McKinnon
a
a
Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, North Terrace,
Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
b
Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders Drive, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
c
Applied Statistics Unit, Centre for Regional Engagement, University of South Australia, Whyalla Campus,
Whyalla Norrie, SA 5608, Australia
Available online 21 April 2009
KEYWORDS
Multiple sclerosis;
Complementary and
alternative medicine;
Dietary intervention;
Australia;
Survey;
Frequency;
Reasons for use;
Perceptions of
efficacy
Summary
Objectives: To investigate the usage patterns of complementary and alternative medicines
(CAMs), as well as dietary interventions, by South Australian people with multiple sclerosis
(MS).
Design: Self-administered postal survey.
Setting: Questionnaire mailed to recipients of the South Australian (SA) MS Society newsletter
(n = 1230).
Main outcome measures: Patterns of CAMs use and dietary interventions, reasons for using/not
using CAMs in MS, sources of CAMs information and monthly expenditure on CAMs/dietary
interventions.
Results: A total of 428 surveys were returned (response rate 34.8%) of which 416 met the
inclusion criteria for analysis. The majority of SA people with MS who responded reported
using CAMs/dietary interventions (64.7%). Respondents with tertiary education and those with
mild and moderate disease reported highest CAM use. The most frequently used CAM product
categories were vitamins (81.8%), essential fatty acids (80.7%) and minerals (62.5%). Com-
monly used herbal products included Ginkgo biloba (18.2%) and valerian (16.4%). Popular diets
were the low fat (39.8%), low/no sugar (23.8%) and gluten-free (16.4%) diets. The majority
of those using CAMs/dietary interventions did so concurrently with conventional treatments
(72.1%). Reasons for use included: general health and well-being; to alleviate ‘general’ as well
as specific MS symptoms such as muscle weakness, urinary or memory problems and mobil-
ity. Conventional health professionals, and friends/family, were the most common sources of
information. Monthly expenditure was most commonly AUD$20—49/month.
Sources of financial support: Sansom Institute, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia.
*
Corresponding author at: Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, Sansom Institute, University of South Australia,
GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. Tel.: +61 8 83022395; fax: +61 8 83021087.
E-mail address: susan.semple@unisa.edu.au (S.J. Semple).
0965-2299/$ — see front matter © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2009.03.001