Caffeine Supplements Significantly Reduce Fatigue in MS Patients: New Trial Results

Taking oral caffeine supplements may significantly reduce fatigue and improve quality of life and mood in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent clinical trial in Iran. Participants took 100 mg of caffeine tablets daily for 12 weeks, equivalent to about two shots of espresso, or a placebo. The caffeine group showed significant improvements in multiple domains, including energy and fatigue, social and physical functioning, emotional well-being, pain, and general health. “These results suggest that caffeine may be a practical, readily available, and cost-effective therapeutic option for fatigue associated with MS,” researchers wrote. The study, “Efficacy of Caffeine Supplementation on Fatigue in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial,” was published in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. Fatigue one of the most common MS symptoms Fatigue, defined as an overwhelming feeling of mental or physical tiredness that significantly impacts daily activities, is one of the most common symptoms of MS, affecting about 80% of people with the disease. For many, it is considered the single most debilitating symptom of the disease. Despite its prevalence and significant impact on a person’s well-being, there are still limited treatment options to ease MS-related fatigue. Caffeine, a compound found in coffee and cocoa, is known to act as a neuronal stimulant, helping people feel more alert, focused, and energetic. Due to its properties, it could represent a safer and more accessible alternative for easing fatigue in MS, but clinical trials testing this effect are still lacking. To address this, a team of Iranian researchers conducted a clinical trial (IRCT20241129063892N1) to determine whether caffeine supplementation could reduce fatigue in MS patients. The trial enrolled 60 adults, most of whom (96.7%) had relapsing-remitting MS, and randomly assigned them to receive 100 mg of caffeine per day in oral tablets or a placebo for about three months. After this period, both groups experienced a significant reduction in fatigue, but the decline was more than twice as large in the caffeine group as in the placebo group (16.5 points vs. 7.1 points, respectively). Oral caffeine supplementation appears to be a safe and well-tolerated intervention that may provide clinically relevant fatigue reduction and an additional, incremental benefit on top of the non-specific effects of care in patients with multiple sclerosis. The two groups also experienced improvements in health-related quality of life, as assessed with the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). For those given caffeine supplements, significant gains were observed in several SF-36 domains, including energy and fatigue, social and physical functioning, emotional well-being, pain, and general health. The placebo group experienced a significant improvement in role limitations due to physical health, energy, fatigue, and social functioning. However, no significant differences emerged in total SF-36 scores or specific domains between the caffeine and placebo groups after three months. Caffeine was deemed safe and well tolerated, with only minor, temporary side effects reported. The most common side effect was mild indigestion, which occurred in two patients (6%) in the caffeine group and in one patient given the placebo (3%). “Oral caffeine supplementation appears to be a safe and well-tolerated intervention that may provide clinically relevant fatigue reduction and an additional, incremental benefit on top of the non-specific effects of care in patients with multiple sclerosis,” the researchers concluded.