February 10, 2020 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Methionine, MSCT, Spinal Fluid, and BTK Blocker Studies Dietary Changes May Delay Development and Progression of MS, Study Finds Methionine is an amino acid found in meat, eggs, and dairy. It’s absorbed by T-cells that are part of our immune system. Those cells are also believed to be the immune cells that attack our myelin, creating the…
February 6, 2020 News by Vanessa Pataia Dietary Changes May Delay Development and Progression of MS, Study Finds Changing a person’s diet to reduce the amount of methionine (amino acid found in food) could delay the development and progression of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, includingĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). That finding was described in the study ā…
January 10, 2020 Columns by John Connor Lo, on the Very First Vegan Christmas Only 347 shopping days to go! So don’t dismiss this as a column about last Christmas (though that’s what it is!) but as possibly the first on the planet about the next one. Luckily, I quite like nut roast. But it is very much “quite” like. I don’t like it…
January 9, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Weight Loss Diets Rare Among Obese MS Patients Despite Link to Disease Progression, Study Suggests Despite the fact that being obese or overweight may worsenĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) prognosis, people with the neurodegenerative disease are not more likely to adopt weight loss diets, a small study suggests. The study, āObesity, dieting, and multiple sclerosis,ā was published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis and Related…
October 21, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD National MS Society Awards $14.6M Supporting 43 New Research Projects TheĀ NationalĀ Multiple Sclerosis SocietyĀ (NMSS) awarded $14.6 million in grants supporting 43 new and multiyear research projectsĀ intoĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS), part of a projected $36 million investment in disease research for 2019, the society announced on its website. Funded projects include research into new ways of halting progressive MS, the…
September 4, 2019 News by Steve Bryson, PhD MS Relationships Improved by Togetherness and Communication, Study Suggests Relationships between multiple sclerosis patients and their intimate partners were enhanced when the couple worked together to make lifestyle changes, and to develop skills to improve communication, a study shows.Ā
August 16, 2019 News by Alana Kessler MS RD Wahls Seminar Provides Different Perspectives on Managing MS: A Nutritionist’s View āDiet is profound. Lifestyle is profound. All patients should be taught how profound these things are.āĀ ā Terry Wahls, MS thriver and founder of the Wahls ProtocolĀ Western medicine has long approached multiple sclerosis (MS) and autoimmune disorders through traditional methods. While there have been…
June 26, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Vegetable-rich Diet, Other Interventions, May Help Lower Fatigue in Progressive MS, Pilot Study Finds One year of a vegetable-rich diet ā combined with exercise, neuromuscular stimulation, and stress reduction techniques ā is effective in easing fatigue in people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers say the results may be linked to changes in blood fat levels, in particular cholesterol. This integrative…
May 17, 2019 News by Alana Kessler MS RD How Diet Helped Creator of Wahls Protocol in Personal MS Journey: A Nutritionist’s View In my recent conversation with Terry Wahls, MD, creator of the Wahls diet for multiple sclerosis (MS), she said something that resonated with me: āYou canāt change your genes, but you can change your geneās expression.ā How true this statement is. However, it was only a few short years ago that Dr. Wahlsā diet protocol, and āfood as medicineā philosophy was being met with strong criticism from the medical community. Nowadays, the modified paleolithic diet and lifestyle program she facilitates at the Wahls Institute in Iowa is being touted as the work of a visionary.
April 12, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Excess Body Fat Spurs Disease Progression by Impact on Immune Cells, Study Suggests A link between fat molecules calledĀ ceramides andĀ worsening disease in overweight and obese people with multiple sclerosis appears to exist, a study reports, with its findings suggesting that ceramides prompt the growth of immune cells calledĀ monocytes, which in turn spurs disease progression. These results also strengthen the likelihood thatĀ lifestyle factors, like diet and weight, can act as disease modifiers, its researchers said. High body mass index has been linked to the risk of developing MS, but for reasons that aren't clear. One idea is that weight-induced differences in lipids (fat molecules) in the blood, because they are involved in several cellular signaling processes, may affect MS and its course in people with higher BMIs. To test this hypothesis, a team led by researchers atĀ the Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) at The Graduate Center and at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai analyzed 54 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (MS), ages 18 to 60, and with normal or high BMIs (27 people in each group). Participants were followed for two years. BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. A normal BMI is defined as one between 18.5 and 24.9, while a person is considered overweight with a BMI of 25ā29.9, and obese it is 30 or higher. Researchers took blood samples, and looked for differences between the groups in terms of both immune cells and blood lipid profiles. They then validated their findings in a separate group of 91 RRMS patients. Patients with high BMIs tended to have more monocytes than those with normal BMIs. Monocytes can travel through the blood to tissues where they develop into macrophages, immune cells with various functions that are best known for "eating" invading bacteria. Monocytes can also travel to the brain and damage nerve fibers. Overweight and obese patients also had significantly higher levels of ceramides compared with normal-weight patients, and the researchers wondered if a link might exist between the two. Through a set of experiments in cells, they discovered that ceramides cause epigenetic changes in monocytes; that is, they alter the way their genomes are "read," so they alter gene activity. Specifically, ceramide-treated cells showed a type of epigenetic change called methylation ā which generally turns genes "off" ā in genes that normally help prevent cells from dividing. Conceptually, these genetic changes serve to unleash monocytes, leading them to grow more (proliferate) than they otherwise might. The researchers also found more methylation on the genomes of monocytes from high-BMI patients than those from low-BMI patients, and they noted that the overweight or obese patients also tended to have greater disease activity, worse disability progression, and more brain lesions on MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans on follow-up. Finally, the researchers tested a mouse model of MS, giving one group of mice a standard diet and another a high-fat diet. Mice fed the high-fat diet were found to have greater disease severity, more brain lesions, and more monocytes, confirming the findings seen in MS patients. "This study gives us a much-needed view into the environmental influences that can affect and change the behavior of cells in an individual's body," Kamilah Castro, the study's first author, said in a press release. "Our findings suggest that increased levels of saturated fat as a result of dietary habits are one likely cause of the epigenetic changes that advance MS, which gives us a starting point for a potential intervention." According to the team, the findingsĀ support the concept of nutri-epigenomics:Ā that is, the ability of food to alter the way the genetic information is interpreted by each cell, and suggest that "weight management and dietary intervention" might affect MS prognosis. One limitation was the study's small size, its researchers noted. "While we consider our results ā¦ very exciting and mechanistic, we acknowledge that the potential consideration of ceramide levels as biomarkers for disease progression in MS would require validation ... using larger cohorts with a longitudinal and/or cross-sectional design," they concluded. "It will also be important to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary intervention (with an emphasis on the reduction of specific classes of saturated fats), as potential modulator of plasma ceramide levels and possibly of disease course in MS patients."
April 5, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AANAM – Mineral Intake Not Linked to MS Risk, Study Suggests The amount of zinc, iron, and other minerals a person has in his or her diet is not associated with the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study. The study, āTotal intake of different minerals and the risk of multiple sclerosis,”Ā was published…
April 2, 2019 News by Alana Kessler MS RD Review of 2 Diets That May Benefit MS Patients: A Nutritionist’s View I recently came across the article āReview of Two Popular Eating Plans within the Multiple Sclerosis Community: Low Saturated Fat and Modified Paleolithic,ā published in the journal Nutrients, which compared the efficacy of the Swank diet and…
March 8, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Daily Cup of Flavonoid-rich Cocoa May Help Ease MS Fatigue A daily cup of flavonoid-rich cocoa may help ease fatigue in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to the results of a small clinical trial. The study āA randomised double-blind placebo-controlled feasibility trial of flavonoid-rich cocoa for fatigue in people with relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosisā was…
March 8, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD #AANAM – Sugar-sweetened Beverages Linked to Higher Disability Level in MS, Study Finds Drinking about 290 calories of sugar-sweetened beverages ā the equivalent of about two cans of non-diet soda ā per day may be associated with a higher level of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), compared to those who seldom consume such beverages, according to a preliminary study. The…
February 25, 2019 News by Alberto Molano, PhD Study Indicates Possible Correlation Between Nutritional Status, MS Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients eat a more limited diet, with a lower average of 31 nutrients, including zinc, thiamin, and iron, when compared with healthy controls, a study shows. Blood tests also showed that MS patients had significantly lower iron levels, a different fatty acid composition in their red blood…
December 7, 2018 News by Alana Kessler MS RD Treating MS with Holistic Behaviors and Strategies: A Nutritionist’s View When I first met Stephanie in March, she was like any healthy 28-year-old coming in to see me for a nutrition consult. Her positive attitude and bright smile filled the room as she told me about her job as a grade school teacher and the new apartment she…
November 27, 2018 News by Santiago Gisler Lifestyle Factors Tied to MS-related Depression, Large Study Finds Changeable lifestyle factors influence the risk and severity of depression associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study based on a large group of patients shows. According to the study,Ā alcohol consumption in particular was linked negatively withĀ depression incidence and severity. In addition, a healthy diet and vitamin D and omega-3 supplementation…
November 5, 2018 News by Stacy Grieve, PhD Salt-rich Diet Appears to Trigger Inflammation and Promote Autoimmune Disease by Impact on T-cells, Study Reports Researchers at Yale uncovered a way that high-salt diets may trigger inflammation and possibly contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Their study, “Activated Ī²-catenin in Foxp3+ regulatory T cells links inflammatory environments to autoimmunity,” was recently published in the journalĀ Nature…
August 7, 2018 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Vitamin D3 Insufficiency Increases MS Susceptibility in a Gene and Sex-dependent Manner Vitamin D3 insufficiency increases multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) susceptibility in a gene and sex-dependent manner, a mouse study suggests. The study with that finding, “Sex-Specific Gene-by-Vitamin D Interactions Regulate Susceptibility to Central Nervous System Autoimmunity,” by researchers at the University of Vermont, was published in the journalĀ Frontiers in…
July 16, 2018 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc MS Patients Need More Advice from Physicians on Dietary Guidelines, Study Shows Health professionals are often not discussing the importance of following national dietary guidelines with their multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, causing them to turn to other sources like the internet that may advise potentially harmful diets with serious consequences, according to an Australian study. The study, āDietary responses to…
July 12, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD Missouri Trial to Examine if Fasting Alters Gut Microbiome and Immune System of RRMS Patients in Helpful Ways A 12-week clinical study is recruiting people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to evaluate if intermittent fasting can improve their immune response, metabolism, and gut microbiome ā the bacterial community that inhabits the gastrointestinal tract. Its findings may also hint at whether such a diet might ease MS symptoms or alter discourse course and, if used in conjunction with other treatments, boost their efficacy. Conducted by researchers atĀ Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri,Ā the trial is supported by their findings in an earlier mouse study.Ā Results showed that fasting worked to ease MS-like symptoms in a mouse model of the disease, the research team reported. Specifically,Ā EAE mice fed every other day were less prone to symptoms that included difficulty in walking, limb weakness, and paralysis than mice allowed to eat freely.Ā A fasting diet also enriched bacterial diversity in the mice guts, and shifted immune cell populations there toward a lower inflammatory response.Ā When gut bacteria were transferred from fasting mice to nonfasting mice, the later also were seen to be better protected against MS-like movement problems, supporting the influence of the gut microbiome on MS symptoms. Several diets have been proposed to help ease disease progression in MS patients, but solid scientific evidence is lacking to support any one diet over another, leaving the issue much to an individualās choice. āThe fact is that diet may indeed help with MS symptoms, but the studies havenāt been done,ā Laura Piccio, MD, an associate professor of neurology at WUSTL and the study's lead author, said in a WUSTL news releaseĀ written by Tamara Bhandari. Taking place at the Missouri university, the trialĀ is expected to enroll 60 RRMS patients.Ā Half will be randomly assigned to eat a standard Western-style diet seven days a week, and the other half to Western-style diet five days a week, with two days set aside for fasting (consuming a maximum of 500 calories each day). On fasting days, patients canĀ only drink water or calorie-free beverages and eat fresh, steamed or roasted non-starchy vegetables All will undergo a neurological assessment, and provide blood and stool samples in the study's beginning, at mid-point or week six, and at its end (week 12). Those using MS medications will continue on their prescribed treatment regimens throughout the study. More information, including enrollment information, is available here. Piccio noted thatĀ a pilot study on diet in 16 MS patients showed that limiting calories every other day for two weeks led to immune and gut microbiome changes that resembled those observed in the mice study she helped to lead. Its researchers concluded that intermittent fasting had the potential to positively manipulate the immune response in MS patients by changing their gut microbiome. The gut microbiome plays a central role in digestion, and in producing vitamins and amino acids (the building blocks of proteins). But a growing body of evidence indicates that it also determines how our immune systems develops and matures. Indeed, an increasing number of studiesĀ link irregularities in the gut microbiome with MS. āThere are several possible ways fasting can affect inflammation and the immune response,ā Piccio said. āOne is by changing hormone levels. We found that levels of the anti-inflammatory hormone corticosterone were nearly twice as high in the fasting mice. But it also could act through the gut microbiome.ā The new trial will allowĀ the team to analyze more deeply the effects of a fasting diet ā and perhaps gather evidence for a larger study investigating if skipping meals can ease MS symptoms. Its goal is to find out "whether people on limited fasts undergo changes to their metabolism, immune response and microbiome similar to what we see in the mouse,ā Piccio said. āI donāt think any physician working with this disease thinks you can cure MS with diet alone,ā she added,Ā ābut we may be able to use it as an add-on to current treatments to help people feel better.ā
July 10, 2018 News by Stacy Grieve, PhD Plenty of Sunlight, Fruits and Coffee Linked to Lower MS Risk in Study of Adults in Saudi Arabia Getting plenty of sun, eating fresh fruits regularly and drinking coffee daily are associated with a lower risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) among adults in Saudi Arabia ā while eating a lot of fast-food raises that risk, researchers report. Their study, “Environmental exposures and the risk of…
June 28, 2018 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Life After Whole30: Nutrition and MS Last month, I challenged myself to conquer Whole30:Ā 30 days of no gluten, grain, dairy, sugar, or sulfites. Forty days later, I am proud to say I not only survived, I thrived. I am still thriving. Friends have long been touting the merits of adopting a synonymous eating plan.
May 29, 2018 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc MS Patients Generally Able to Maintain Healthy Lifestyle Changes, Study Shows In general, multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are able to make and sustainĀ healthy lifestyle changes associated with a better quality of life, a study shows. The study, āHealth outcomes and adherence to a healthy lifestyle after a multimodal intervention in people with multiple sclerosis: Three year follow-up,ā…
March 6, 2018 News by Diogo Pinto High Fish Consumption May Be Key to Lowering Risk of Developing MS Eating fish once a week, or one to three times per month along with taking daily fish oil supplements, may help lower the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), a preliminary study shows. These findings suggest that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish like salmon, tuna and shrimp may…
February 23, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD Pilot Study Is Testing Whether Mediterranean Diet Can Help MS Patients New York researchers are doing a pilot study of whether a Mediterranean diet can reduce multiple sclerosis symptoms and improve patients’ quality of life.Ā Dr. Ilana B. Katz Sand, an assistant professor of neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai,Ā is leading…
January 18, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Excessive Salt Consumption Leads to Cognitive Impairment, MS Mouse Study Shows New research shows how a high-salt diet leads to excessive levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, causing changes in endothelial cells that result in dementia. These findings suggest that therapeutics targeting IL-17 may help halt the neurovascular damages of MS and other autoimmune diseases linked to high…
December 20, 2017 Columns by Cathy Chester The Relationship Between Gut Bacteria and Multiple Sclerosis This year, I wrote several articles about gut health because, in addition to MS, thatās what Iām currently battling. Writing is cathartic, so when an issue hits close to home, pouring words onto paper … er, a laptop, is a godsend. Itās like having a…
December 11, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Diet Rich in Fruits, Veggies and Whole Grains May Slow MS Progression, Study Shows A diet rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains may decrease symptoms and lessen disease progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study suggests. The report, āDiet quality is associated with disability and symptom severity in multiple sclerosis,ā appeared in the journal Neurology. āPeople with MS…
December 6, 2017 Columns by Cathy Chester 6 Tips to Enjoy This Merry Month of December Whenever I turn the pages of my wall calendar to December, I look at the word itself ā DECEMBER ā and my heart fills with joy. And admittedly a little dread. Joy, because my husband and son have birthdays a week apart, itās…