Does the nature of nutrition affect the development and course of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)?

Abstract

Introduction: Considering the connection between microbiota and immune system, nutrition rec- ommendations for patients with multiple sclerosis can lead to immune modulation and positive effect. Objectives: Determine the main models of nutrition dominating among patients with RRMS with different activity. Material and methods: 30 women with RRMS who did not change their dietary habits, and thirty healthy women at the age 25.0 ± 5.0 and 26.0 ± 5.0, respectively, were examined. The diagnosis was established in accordance with the McDonald’s criteria, EDSS = 2–3. The FFQ-based questionnaire was used, where nutrition products were grouped into clusters and five types of dietary models were derived.Results: All 5 types of dietary patterns were identified in the examined patients: western, high-fat, vegetarian, lactovegetarian and traditional models. Most patients followed the western model (odds ratio [OR] = 1.97; 95% confidence interval CI: 1.61–2.92, P 0.005) and high-fat model ([OR] = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.61–2.92, P 0.005). Minority of the patients preferred the traditional ([OR] = 0.17; 95% [CI]: 0.05–0.20, P = 0.028), vegetarian ([OR] = 0.40; 95% ; [CI]: 0.17–0.78, P = 0.026) lactovegetarian diet ([OR] = 0.33; 95%; [CI]: 0.14–0.84, P = 0.018). During 6 months, the patients who followed the western model had 1–2 exacerbations with new periventricular Gd+ lesions on MRI, while patients on other diets did not have exacerbations. Conclusions: The western and high-fat models dominate among the RRMS patients, which probably causes the bigger activity of the disease.