Complementary therapies for multiple sclerosis: Scoping review with evidence gap map published
Where do we actually stand on complementary therapies for people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS)? In our scoping review and evidence gap map, we mapped 83 studies (46 systematic reviews and 37 randomized controlled trials) across 63 complementary therapies and 30 core outcomes relevant to pwMS.
While therapies such as cannabis-based medicine and vitamins were among the most frequently studied, the review also revealed substantial evidence gaps:
- 65.1% of listed interventions had no RCTs or systematic reviews
- More than half of the core outcomes were evaluated in fewer than five studies
- Seven important outcomes had not been evaluated at all
The findings highlight both the growing interest in complementary therapies and the urgent need for larger, adequately powered trials that assess outcomes meaningful to people living with MS.
A major output of this work was the development of an interactive Evidence and Gap Map, designed to support researchers, clinicians, and people with MS in navigating the current evidence landscape: https://lnkd.in/eyFgZYcz
Full publication (open access)
Lopez-Alcalde J, Yan Y, Canella C, Barth J, Steinemann N, von Wyl V, Baum C, Bolt S, Haegele-Link S, Grob GR, Tietjen AK, Álvarez-Díaz N, Witt CM. Complementary therapies for multiple sclerosis: Scoping review with evidence gap map. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2026 May 12;111:107243.