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SPHRINGOMYELIN Sphringomyelin (pronounced ss-fringo-my-e-lin) is myelin and other nerve material, usually obtained from cattle. Beef myelin is similar in structure but not exactly the same as human myelin. It is often taken as a supplement for treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. For some reason, the immune system in patients with MS gets confused and targets the patient's own myelin for destruction. When beef myelin is digested in the intestine it attracts the attention of the immune system, which is already primed to attack myelin. However, in theory at least, because it is somewhat different from human myelin the beef myelin changes the immune response and causes the immune system to be "more tolerant" of all types of myelin, including its own. |