What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a randomized double-blind trial to assess the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy compared to a placebo for treating multiple sclerosis.
What They Found
The trial, involving 41 patients, found no advantage of hyperbaric oxygen over a placebo gas mixture. In the oxygen group (21 patients), 8 reported improvement (2 objectively confirmed), while in the placebo group (20 patients), 7 claimed improvement (4 objectively confirmed). No benefit was observed even when considering patients with mild disease or assessing individual functional systems.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with multiple sclerosis should be aware that hyperbaric oxygen therapy has not been shown to be an effective treatment. It is important to rely on therapies with proven benefits for managing the condition.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study's findings are based on a specific hyperbaric oxygen regimen and a relatively small sample size of 41 patients.