Even though MS is known to be an immune-mediated disorder, no particular diet or food choices have been proven to prevent progression or help with the symptoms of MS. However, a recent study funded by the National MS Society showed that restricting calories in your diet may decrease inflammation and improve one type of cognitive function called information processing speed. The basis of the trial was previous studies in mice showing reduced inflammation and reduced symptoms in mice with MS-like disease. This human study compared normal daily caloric intake vs a reduced caloric intake on an intermittent schedule (a mixture of restricted days and normal intake days). Subjects in the therapeutic arm ate no more than 500 calories from vegetables two days per week and a normal diet 5 days per week.
While the benefits were clear, the biological changes associated with the benefits are not yet known. One theory is a reduction of leptin which is an inflammatory protein released from fat tissue in increased amounts in MS patients. After following the intermittent reduced calorie diet, subjects had significantly lower leptin levels compared to the group eating a normal diet, an increase in a certain type of immune cell, and improved information processing speed on cognitive tests. Further studies will be needed to confirm the benefits of these dietary recommendations.
BeCare MS Link can help you follow your cognitive and overall neurologic health in response to both medications and lifestyle changes to empower you to participate in your disease journey.
Reference: “ Randomised controlled trial of intermittent calorie restriction in people with multiple sclerosis ” by Ghezzi, et al. published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry (2024).