Diet has a wide range of effects on an individual’s health — it impacts a person’s weight, and can alter the risk of heart disease, bone problems, and other health issues. There are a number of different special diets that are said to be beneficial for people with MS including the Paleo diet, Keto diet, the Swank diet, the Overcoming MS diet, the Best Bet diet, and the McDougall diet. Despite this, it is still unclear if any one dietary strategy is best for people with MS. The Mediterranean diet may exert a protective influence regarding the risk of subsequently developing MS compared with Western-style diet.[i] It has also been linked to less objective disability in MS.A recent systematic review reported possible beneficial effects of Mediterranean-like diets for people with MS but highlighted that large-scale multiple-centre interventional studies are needed.
Generally, it is recommended that individuals with MS eat a varied and well-balanced diet along the lines of what is typically recommended in the general population — lots of plant-derived foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and fewer foods that are processed or high in refined sugars and fats.[iv] Eating a balanced diet that provides for all nutritional needs may help people with MS better manage and control their MS. Specifically, a good diet can help in:
Being less active and eating an unhealthy diet can lead to weight gain and obesity. Being obese or overweight is linked with worse severity of some MS symptoms, such as fatigue and pain. Changes to diet that help patients lose weight may ease these types of symptoms.
Some specific nutrients of particular relevance to MS include:
It remains unclear whether consuming dairy products affects the course of MS. Some studies have found people with MS who consume more dairy tend to have more severe disease, but other studies have reported the exact opposite trend, with more dairy consumption linked to less severe MS.5, Full-fat dairy products are often high in saturated fats, but dairy also can be a good source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D.
Some research has suggested a link between higher salt (sodium) intake and more severe MS, but other studies have shown no connection between salt consumption and MS severity. A high-salt diet can increase the risk of other health problems (e.g., high blood pressure), so it is generally recommended that salt in the diet be moderated.
Several studies have explored whether gluten intake may influence MS, but there is not enough evidence to make any conclusions one way or another. Available evidence suggests the rate of gluten intolerance, known as celiac disease, is no higher among people with MS than in the general population.
In summary, epidemiologic research, a small number of prospective studies, and limited clinical trials suggest the importance of various dietary factors in MS. Clinical and experimental studies provide indirect evidence that a balanced diet in combination with an overall healthy lifestyle is linked with an improvement in several clinical parameters as well as measurements of quality of life for patients with MS.
