Dietary patterns in clinical subtypes of multiple sclerosis: an exploratory study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Nutrition Science
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disorder with variable disease severity.
• Dietary factors are increasingly recognized for their potential role in MS disease course.
• Limited data exists on the relationship between dietary intake and MS severity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate potential associations between dietary intake variations and multiple sclerosis disease course severity.
• To compare nutrient intake in different MS subtypes (primary progressive, secondary progressive, benign MS) and the general population.

Main Methods:

• A 14-day food diary was used to measure the dietary intake of 23 nutrients and vitamins.
• Dietary intake was assessed in patients with primary progressive (n=21), secondary progressive (n=32), and benign MS (n=27).
• Intake was compared between MS groups, the Dutch population, and recommended daily allowances.

Main Results:

• Secondary progressive MS patients exhibited lower intake of magnesium, calcium, and iron compared to other MS groups.
• Overall MS patients showed lower intake of folate, magnesium, copper, and energy compared to the Dutch population.
• MS patients had suboptimal intake of folic acid, magnesium, zinc, and selenium relative to recommended daily allowances.

Conclusions:

• Lower intake of magnesium, calcium, and iron may be linked to multiple sclerosis progression.
• These micronutrients warrant further investigation due to their potential role in MS.
• Understanding dietary impacts is crucial given the lack of effective neuroprotective treatments for MS.