Propionic acid in Multiple Sclerosis: could a short chain fatty acid improve neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration?

Welcome to the 37th episode of The Brain Podcast - the official podcast of the journals Brain and Brain Communications. 

This episode features a discussion with first author Dr Tobias Moser of the Brain article entitled: Propionic acid in multiple sclerosis: a phase 2b, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial

We discuss the Multiple sclerosis And DisAbility Improvement (MADAI) trial - a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-centre, phase 2b study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of propionic acid as an add-on therapy in adults with clinically stable multiple sclerosis. Results show a significant impact on serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) outcomes as well as physical and cognitive performance measures. Both relapsing-remitting and primary progressive MS was considered in this trial and the authors discuss how proprionic acid may affect neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

Check out the full article on the Brain website as part of the July 2026 issue (editors choice): https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awag099

This episode was co-hosted, edited and produced by Xin You Tai and Alasdair Coles, co-produced by Xin You Tai and Antonia Johnston, original music by Ammar Al-Chalabi.