Linoleic acid and multiple sclerosis: a reanalysis of three double-blind trials

Data from three double-blind trials of linoleic acid in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) were reanalyzed to examine whether inconsistency in the results was due to a relationship between patient characteristics and treatment response. The combined data consisted of neurologic assessments over 2 1/2-year trials for 87 treated patients and 85 control patients. Treated patients with minimal or no disability at entry had a smaller increase in disability than did controls (p less than 0.05). In addition, treatment reduced the severity and duration of relapses at all levels of disability and duration of illness at entry to the trials.