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Nutrition, latitude, and multiple sclerosis mortality: an ecologic study
M L Esparza1, S Sasaki, H Kesteloot
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Sint-Rafaël, Leuven, Belgium.
American Journal of Epidemiology
|October 1, 1995
Summary
Higher intake of dietary fat and increasing latitude are linked to increased multiple sclerosis mortality. Conversely, a higher ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids correlates with lower mortality rates from this disease.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Nutrition Science
- Neurology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease with a complex etiology.
- Geographic variations in MS prevalence and mortality suggest environmental factors, including diet and latitude, may play a role.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between mortality rates of multiple sclerosis and dietary fat intake, considering geographic latitude.
- To test the hypothesis linking dietary fat consumption and latitude to multiple sclerosis mortality.
Main Methods:
- An epidemiologic study analyzed mortality data for multiple sclerosis from 36 countries between 1983 and 1989.
- Stepwise multiple regression analysis was employed to assess correlations between mortality rates and various dietary fat parameters and latitude.
Main Results:
- Positive correlations were found between multiple sclerosis mortality and saturated fatty acids, animal fat, animal minus fish fat, and latitude.
- Negative correlations were observed between multiple sclerosis mortality and the polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio (P/S ratio) and the unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio (U/S ratio).
Conclusions:
- Dietary fat intake, particularly saturated and animal fats, is independently associated with higher multiple sclerosis mortality.
- Latitude and dietary fat composition are significant factors associated with geographic variations in multiple sclerosis mortality, supporting existing hypotheses.