Mediterranean-style diet may lower MS risk, study suggests
Risk may be higher in those who don't get enough of certain key nutrients
Written by |
Eating a variety of healthy foods is recommended for people with multiple sclerosis. (Image from iStock)
- Adopting a Mediterranean-style diet is associated with a significantly lower risk of developing MS.
- Individuals who don't get enough of certain key nutrients face a notably higher risk of developing MS.
- Public health strategies and MS care could benefit from incorporating dietary counseling.
People whose dietary habits are more in line with a Mediterranean-style diet may be less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS), a study in Iran suggests.
Results also indicate that the risk of MS may be higher in people who don’t get enough of certain key nutrients from their diet.
These findings add to previous studies suggesting a link between a Mediterranean diet and a lower risk of MS, and they “underscore the potential of diet as a modifiable risk factor in MS prevention, offering valuable insights for public health strategies,” researchers wrote.
The study, “Mediterranean Diet and Micronutrient Adequacy in Relation to Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Risk: A Case-Control Study,” was published in Health Science Reports.
Study looked at both Mediterranean diet, micronutrient intake
Diet can have a profound impact on health and quality of life. There’s been a lot of research into how different dietary strategies may affect MS. Currently, there isn’t adequate data to support any specific diet as best for people with the disease, but it’s widely accepted that eating a well-balanced diet and getting proper nutrition can be beneficial.
In the context of MS, one of the most well-studied diets is the Mediterranean diet, which is characterized by foods commonly eaten by people who live along the Mediterranean Sea. It emphasizes lean proteins, fruits, veggies, and olive oil, while minimizing processed foods and animal-based fats like butter. The Mediterranean diet is notably rich in micronutrients, which are vitamins and minerals that are essential in small amounts.
In this study, a team of researchers in Iran set out to investigate whether this diet, as well as adequate micronutrient intake, influences MS risk. Their study included 197 adults newly diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, as well as 200 adults without neurological diseases.
All participants completed a self-reported questionnaire about their eating habits, and the researchers used the questionnaires to calculate two scores: the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), and the Micronutrient Adequacy Ratio (MAR).
MDS is a numerical representation of how closely someone’s eating habits resemble a Mediterranean diet; a higher number indicates a higher resemblance. MAR reflects whether or not someone is getting enough micronutrients through their diet, with higher numbers indicating a more adequate micronutrient intake.
“This study is innovative in simultaneously evaluating both MDS and MAR, addressing a gap in the literature where dietary patterns and nutrient adequacy are often examined in isolation,” the researchers wrote.
High Mediterranean Diet Score linked to lower MS risk
The team first divided the participants into tertiles (three groups) based on MDS and MAR scores. They then used statistical analyses to evaluate the risk of MS in each tertile after accounting for potentially influencing factors such as age and smoking status.
Results showed that individuals in the highest MDS tertile had significantly lower odds, by 47%, of developing MS than those in the lowest tertile, indicating that people who follow a more Mediterranean-style diet are less likely to develop MS.
Similarly, individuals in the highest MAR tertile were significantly less likely, by 75%, to develop MS than those in the lowest tertile, indicating that people who don’t get enough micronutrients are more likely to develop MS.
“Our findings suggest that higher MDS and MAR are associated with a reduced risk of MS, providing further support for the role of diet in MS prevention,” the researchers wrote, noting that these data add to a large amount of evidence suggesting that diet is a key factor to consider for MS prevention and care.
“Public health initiatives should consider promoting Mediterranean dietary patterns and ensuring adequate micronutrient intake, particularly in populations at higher risk for MS,” the team added. “Integrating dietary counseling into MS care, tailored to optimize micronutrient adequacy, could complement existing treatment strategies.”
The scientists stressed, however, that these data don’t prove that diet changes can prevent MS, and that the study was limited to participants in Iran, so cultural dietary habits may be different from other parts of the world.
“Future research should focus on longitudinal and interventional studies to establish [cause-and-effect relationships] and to explore the mechanisms underlying these associations, paving the way for evidence-based dietary guidelines in MS prevention and management,” the team concluded.
Leave a comment
Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published.