title: Complementary and alternative medicines and dietary interventions in multiple sclerosis: what is being used in South Australia and why?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the usage patterns of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs), as well as dietary interventions, by South Australian people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered postal survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire mailed to recipients of the South Australian (SA) MS Society newsletter (n=1230).
  
  
  METHODS
  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%). Commonly 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 mobility. Conventional health professionals, and friends/family, were the most common sources of information. Monthly expenditure was most commonly AUD$20-49/month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reports frequent use of CAM/dietary intervention amongst SA people with MS. The majority of users did so in conjunction with conventional treatments.
authors.affiliation: Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, Sansom Institute, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Semple
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angley
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Siebert
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petkov
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: McKinnon
mesh_terms: D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D044623:Nutrition Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013021:South Australia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins