- Experts still do not understand why multiple sclerosis (MS) develops, but current research suggests that genetic and environmental factors may influence its occurrence.
- Italian researchers used datasets from the UK Biobank, one of the largest databases available, to conduct a study exploring how diet and other lifestyle factors may influence the development of MS .
- The study authors state that “the evidence encourages the study of diet as a modifiable risk factor for neurological disease.”
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with increasing prevalence. It is a progressive condition, meaning it is likely to get worse over time.
MS is the most common debilitating neurodegenerative disease among
Some experts believe that genetic and environmental factors, such as smoking, obesity and exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) light can increase the likelihood of MS.
Scientists at the Università del Piemonte Orientale in Novaro, Italy searched the UK’s large Biobank for data linking diet and lifestyle factors to the condition.
Their findings appear in the journal Nutrients.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes the immune system to attack
The disease is characterized by lesions in the central nervous system, or CNS, which can cause physical or cognitive impairment. Such issues can lead to sensory disturbances, visual impairments, lack of coordination and paralysis.
Subtypes of the disease include clinically isolated syndrome, primary progressive MS, relapsing-remitting MS, and secondary progressive MS. Female MS patients outnumber their male counterparts two to one.
Researchers have been studying this condition for a long time, constantly looking for interventions that can help people lower their chances of developing MS. One of the lifestyle factors that researchers have seen in relation to MS risk has been diet.
Previous research conducted by some of the authors of the current study had suggested that gut health may affect the CNS.
In their current paper, they state that “the existence of a gut-brain axis supports the importance of considering diet as an important modulator of gut homeostasis and, therefore, CNS health.”
The scientists further point out that a pro-inflammatory gut environment may increase the risk of neuroinflammation and MS.
The study authors used data from the UK Biobank, one of the largest biomedical databases currently available. They did this to address “a paucity of large-scale prospective studies of […] dietary exposures that focus on the general population,” as they explain in the paper.
At its start, this cohort study included 502,507 UK residents aged 40-69. The presence of MS was determined by hospitalizations with MS diagnoses or self-reported MS diagnoses.
At the baseline of the study, in 2006, all participants answered a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), through which they reported their usual consumption of 29 different food groups and alcohol during the past year.
Participants answered questions about their daily intake of cooked vegetables, raw vegetables, fresh and dried fruit. They also reported their weekly intake of fatty fish, processed meat, beef, lamb, poultry, cheese, added salt and other foods.
A subsample of participants also completed online interviews recalling the previous 24 hours of dietary choices. The results were based on the investigation of 200 different foods and drinks.
“Since her [the online interview tool] by automatically calculating the energy and nutrient content of reported food items, we were able to estimate the impact of single micro- or macronutrient intake on disease risk,” the study authors write.
They also used the dietary data to calculate participants’ Mediterranean diet scores.
After exclusions due to participant withdrawal or missing information, the final cohort included 499,563 people.
The current study also examined the role that additional lifestyle factors may play in the onset of MS. The authors looked for data on body mass index (BMI), smoking and physical activity.
An average of 12 years of follow-up data identified 478 cases of MS developing in the study group. This indicates a prevalence rate of 7.78 MS cases for every 100,000 person-years.
People who face an increased risk of MS include those who smoke, have vitamin D deficiency, or have a history of Epstein-Barr virus infection. Genetic determinants of obesity and childhood obesity were also associated with an increased risk of MS.
The study authors observed an inverse correlation between adherence to a type of Mediterranean diet and the onset of MS, suggesting that a healthy diet rich in plants and whole foods, which included moderate consumption of fatty fish, may help in defense against this chronic condition.
To the study authors’ knowledge, their work is the first to observe a “slightly protective” effect of moderate fish intake.
Eating oily fish once a week appeared to be more protective than more frequent consumption.
Medical News Today discussed the study findings with Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN, and Sarah Hormachea, MS, RD, BC-ADM, CDCES, both registered dietitians who were not involved in this research.
Costa commented that “[a] The main strength of this study is the use of the UK Biobank database, a comprehensive resource that provides a large amount of data from a large cohort.”
However, both dietitians expressed concerns about the study’s limitations.
Hormachea noted that “
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