This multicenter, randomized, open-label clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of taurine as an adjunctive therapy to standard disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study seeks to determine whether oral taurine can reduce the number and volume of new or enlarging MRI lesions, decrease relapse rates, and slow disability progression as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). It will also explore the effects of taurine on gut microbiota composition, serum neurodegeneration biomarkers (GFAP and NfL), and cognitive function assessed by MMSE and MoCA. Approximately 80 eligible participants will be enrolled and randomly assigned to either continue standard DMT therapy or receive taurine supplementation in addition to DMTs. The treatment duration will be 24 months, with follow-up visits every 3 months for clinical assessment, blood and stool sample collection, and MRI scans every 6 months. This study aims to provide new clinical evidence supporting taurine as a safe and potentially beneficial adjunctive therapy for multiple sclerosis.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
80
DMTs + Taurine
DMTs
MRI leision activity
Change in the number, size, and volume of new or enlarging T2 and Gd-enhancing T1 lesions on brain and spinal MRI scans
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 years
EDSS score
Change in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score to assess disability progression or improvement
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 years
Annualized Relapse Rate (ARR)
Number of confirmed clinical relapses per patient-year during the 24-month treatment period
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 years
Gut Microbiota Composition
Alterations in gut microbial diversity and relative abundance of key taxa analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples at baseline, Month 12, and Month 24
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 years
Serum Biomarkers (GFAP and NfL)
Change in serum levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) from baseline to Month 24 as indicators of neuroinflammation and axonal injury.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 years
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