Potential of modified Mediterranean diet to improve quality of life and fatigue severity in multiple sclerosis patients: a single-center randomized controlled trial

Effects of different dietary interventions in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of evidence from 2018 to 2022

BACKGROUND

Nutrition is an important risk factor for both Multiple sclerosis (MS) development and post-diagnosis disease prognosis. However, it is important to evaluate the diet as a whole instead of considering the effects of nutrients individually.

AIMS

In this systematic review, it was aimed to evaluate the effect of different dietary interventions in MS patients and to determine the most appropriate dietary model for this group.

METHODS

The search was carried out between February 2022 and March 2022 in three different databases, 'PubMed', 'Web of Science' and 'The Cochrane Library' over the university access network. After the search for the determined keywords, a total of 269 studies conducted between 2018 and 2022 were identified, but only 17 of them were found to be suitable for inclusion criteria.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Although there are studies reporting positive health outcomes for energy-restricted/intermittent fasting diets, ketogenic diet, and modified paleolithic diet, these diets may not be applicable diets in the long-term as they may cause deficiencies of various nutrients. No current study was found for low-fat diets, gluten-free diet and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet applied to individuals with MS. The Mediterranean diet, on the other hand, is more recommendable than other diet models due to the positive health results reported in long-term studies and the absence of any side effects. However, more studies are needed to reach a definite conclusion.

Effects of anti-Inflammatory-antioxidant-rich diet and co-supplemented synbiotics intervention in patients with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis: a single-center, single-blind randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Current evidence has demonstrated that patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) have dysbiotic gut microbiomes, and anti-inflammatory nutritional interventions can normalize this status. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of dietary intervention in patients with progressive forms of MS.

METHODS

Seventy patients with three forms of progressive MS (primary-progressive, secondary-progressive, and progressive-relapsing) were randomly assigned into intervention (daily synbiotics capsule plus anti-inflammatory-antioxidant rich diet) or control (placebo capsule plus dietary recommendations) groups for four months. Faecal calprotectin level, Impact of Vision Impairment (IVI), Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), and anthropometric measurements were evaluated at baseline and trial cessation. Analysis of covariance was conducted and adjusted for age, gender, education level, family history & duration of MS, type of progressive MS, type of main drug, and physical activity.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine participants were included in the final analysis (n of intervention = 34; n of control = 35). Synbiotics and dietary intervention significantly reduced Faecal calprotectin level after six months (110.5 ± 75.9-44.7 ± 49.3 ɥg/g, P < 0.001), and mean changes were statistically significant in comparison with control group. However, intervention did not elicit any change in the anthropometric measurements.

CONCLUSION

Synbiotics supplementation and adherence to an anti-inflammatory-antioxidant-rich diet reduced intestinal inflammation and improved clinical manifestations in progressive forms of MS.Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20141108019853N7..

Anti-inflammatory-antioxidant modifications and synbiotics improved health-related conditions in patients with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis: A single-center, randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There is growing evidence that dietary modification can improve clinical manifestations in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This study aimed to assess the impact of synbiotics and anti-inflammatory-antioxidant-rich diet on fatigue, pain, gut and bladder status, and sexual function in patients with progressive forms of MS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this single-center, single-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial, seventy participants with three forms of progressive MS (primary-progressive, secondary-progressive, and progressive-relapsing) were randomly assigned to receive either synbiotics supplement and anti-inflammatory-antioxidant-rich diet or a placebo along with their usual diet for a duration of four months. Modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS), global pain scale (GPS), bladder control scale (BLCS), bowel control scale (BWCS), and sexual satisfaction scale (SSS) were assessed at baseline and at the end of the trial.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine participants successfully completed the trial, resulting in a 98% adherence rate to the diet, and no reports of serious side effects. Significant mean changes were observed in fatigue (Δ for experimental group = -10.5 ± 10.8 vs. Δ for control group = -0.08 ± 4.1; P < 0.001), pain (-14.1 ± 19.0 vs. 0.9 ± 10.3; P < 0.001), bladder (-0.76 ± 2.1 vs. 0.3 ± 1.1; P = 0.013) and bowel (-6.6 ± 3.2 vs. -0.05 ± 2.3; P < 0.001) control, as well as sexual function (-1.0 ± 2.3 vs. 0.51 ± 0.21; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The anti-inflammatory-antioxidant-rich diet and synbiotics co-supplementation demonstrated improvements in fatigue, pain, sexual function, and bowel/bladder status among patients with progressive MS.

Impact of Mediterranean Dietary Education on Symptoms for Adults at Risk for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

This 2-month quasi-experimental study focused on the impact of education regarding the Mediterranean diet on symptoms for adults who are at risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The study was conducted on a sample of 28 adults who presented to Pinnacle clinical research for NAFLD screening via a fibroscan. These individuals who are at risk for NAFLD received a single 15-minute one-on-one in person education regarding the Mediterranean diet. The diet encourages fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, fish, and olive oil. The results of the study showed that the Mediterranean diet education was associated with significant improvement of abdominal symptoms ( t = 3.34, p = .03), improvement of fatigue symptoms ( t = 5.88, p < .001), and decrease in hepatic steatosis ( t = 5.77, p < .001). Our study suggests that the education on the Mediterranean diet may be associated with improvement of self-reported abdominal symptoms, fatigue, and steatosis score.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of non-pharmacological interventions on quality of life in adults with multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic debilitating disease that targets the central nervous system. Globally it is estimated that 2.8 million people live with MS (2018) and as there is no known cure; therefore, identifying methods to increase a patient's quality of life (QoL) is of considerable importance. Non-pharmacological interventions are a viable and effective option to increase QoL in patients with MS, however, to date, the literature lacks a complete systematic review of these interventions.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted for studies published up until March 4th 2022 in Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL Plus, The Cochrane Library, Medline, and Embase. Studies were included if they were randomized control trials (RCTs) assessing a non-pharmacological intervention in adults with MS and measured QoL using the MSQOL-54, SF-36 or MSQLI tools for at least two time points. Quality assessment of each study was completed as well as a review of publication bias. Where possible, meta-analysis was conducted using a random effects model and for other studies a qualitative synthesis was presented.

RESULTS

Thirty studies were included in the meta-analysis and eleven studies were summarized qualitatively. The pooled effects across all non-pharmacological interventions showed a modest improvement in both the physical and mental components of QoL, with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.44 (95% CI 0.26-0.61) and 0.42 (95% CI 0.24-0.60), respectively. Non-pharmacological interventions based around a physical activity were found to be particularly effective in improving both the physical composite score (PCS) and mental composite score (MCS), with an SMD of 0.40 (95% CI 0.14-0.66) and 0.31 (95% CI 0.08-0.55), respectively. Interventions incorporating balance exercises presented a significant advantageous solution for improving QoL, with an SMD of 1.71 (95% CI 1.22, 2.20) and 1.63(95% CI 1.15-2.12) for PCS and MCS respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review and meta-analysis identified that non-pharmacological interventions can be an effective method of improving QoL in patients with MS, especially modalities with a physical activity component and balance interventions.

Overview of diet and autoimmune demyelinating optic neuritis: a narrative review

This review summarizes the cellular and molecular underpinnings of autoimmune demyelinating optic neuritis (ADON), a common sequela of multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases. We further present nutritional interventions tested for people with multiple sclerosis focusing on strategies that have shown efficacy or associations with disease course and clinical outcomes. We then close by discuss the potential dietary guidance for preventing and/or ameliorating ADON.

MIND Diet Adherence Might be Associated with a Reduced Odds of Multiple Sclerosis: Results from a Case–Control Study

Introduction

The Mediterranean Dietary Approaches to the Stop Hypertension (DASH) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet has been shown to have beneficial neuroprotective effects. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the link between the MIND diet adherence and multiple sclerosis (MS), a degenerative neurological illness.

Methods

In a hospital-based case–control setting, 77 patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and 148 healthy individuals were recruited. A validated 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess participants’ dietary intakes and the MIND diet score. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between MIND diet adherence and MS.

Results

There was significant difference between RRMS and control groups in the median (Q1-Q3) of age (years, P value < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (kg/m², P value < 0.001), and total intake of calories (kcal, P value = 0.032), carbohydrates (g, P value = 0.003), animal-based protein (g, P value = 0.009), and fiber (g, P value = 0.001). Adherence to the MIND diet was associated with a reduced odds of MS [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.10, 95 percent confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.01–0.88, P for trend = 0.001]. MS odds was significantly lower in the last tertile of green leafy vegetables (aOR = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.00–0.21, P value < 0.001), other vegetables (aOR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.04–0.73, P value = 0.001), butter and stick margarine (aOR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.06–0.65, P value = 0.008), and beans (aOR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01–0.28, P value < 0.001) consumption. While it was significantly higher in the last tertile of cheese (aOR = 4.45, 95% CI = 1.70–11.6, P value = 0.003), poultry (aOR = 3.95, 95% CI = 1.01–15.5, P value = 0.039), pastries and sweets (aOR = 13.9, 95% CI = 3.04–64.18, P value < 0.001), and fried/fast foods (aOR = 32.8, 95% CI = 5.39–199.3, P value < 0.001).

Conclusion

The MIND diet and its components, including green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, and beans, seem to decrease the odds of MS; besides butter and stick margarine, the MIND diet's unhealthy components seem to have the same protective effects, while pastries and sweets, cheese, poultry, and fried/fast foods have an inverse effect.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40120-022-00325-z.

A Mediterranean-type diet improved systemic inflammation in multiple sclerosis patients, as compared to the traditional Iranian diet: A single-center randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: There is overwhelming scientific evidence that dietary modifications is beneficial in neurodegenerative diseases like Multiple Sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to explore the effects of modified Mediterranean Diet (mMeD) on systemic inflammation, anthropometric indices, and relapse rate in MS patients. METHODS: This single-center, randomized controlled trial compared mMeD and traditional Iranian diet (as control) during six months in 180 Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) patients. Serum high sensitivity C Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), percent body fat, and relapse rate were evaluated at baseline, and 3 and 6 months later. Multivariate analysis of covariance test (MANCOVA; conducted by SPSS 24) was adjusted for age, gender, family history, duration of MS and education level. RESULTS: Of 261 screened patients (July 2018-February 2019), 180 patients were eligible; 68/90 as mMeD and 79/90 as control group completed the study. Self-reported adherence was excellent (95%). The mean change on the relapse rate was –0.54±0.9 compared to –0.03±0.4 for control group (P = 0.004). In addition, hs-CRP levels decreased in the mMeD group (–2.9±3.3 mg/L; P < 0.001) and mean changes were significant between two groups (P < 0.001). Anthropometric indices were modified in mMeD group, whereas between-group comparisons were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, mMeD improved inflammatory status and relapse rate in RRMS patients. Future trials with larger scale and longer duration should be conducted to confirm the role of diet as a disease-modifier in MS.

Modified Mediterranean Diet VS. Traditional Iranian Diet: Efficacy of Dietary Interventions on Dietary Inflammatory Index Score, Fatigue Severity and Disability in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

BACKGROUND

Current evidence suggests that adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MeD) can reduce inflammation in chronic diseases; however, studies pertaining to Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential of the modified MeD (mMeD) in improving Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) scores, disability, and fatigue severity, compared to Traditional Iranian Diet (TID), in RRMS patients.

METHODS

After initial screening (n=261), 180 RRMS patients were randomized to receive mMeD or TID (as control) for six months. DII score, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and 21-item Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) were evaluated at baseline and trial cessation. Multivariate analysis of covariance was conducted and adjusted for age, gender, body weight, body mass index, education level, supplement use, family history and duration of MS.

RESULTS

Of the 180 patients enrolled, 147 participants were included in the final analysis (n of mMeD=68; n of TID=79). Self-reported adherence was good (˜81%). Dietary intakes of 45 food parameters were assessed through the food frequency questionnaire. The mMeD significantly reduced DII scores after six months (2.38±0.21 to -1.87±0.86, P<0.001), but TID did not elicit any changes (2.21±0.44 to 2.14±1.01, P=0.771). Additionally, MFIS total score decreased significantly (72.4±17.2 to 63.9±14.2, P<0.001), whereas there was no considerable improvement for EDSS in the mMeD group.

CONCLUSION

Adherence to mMeD, for six months, improved dietary inflammatory status and fatigue severity in RRMS patients, however, the traditional Iranian diet did not positively impact dietary inflammation and MFIS score.