Diet & Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic illness in which the immune system attacks nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord, impairing communication between the brain and body and causing various physical and cognitive symptoms. Some MS researchers and patients believe there could be a link between diet and multiple sclerosis, but no particular diet has been scientifically proven in a large-scale, long-term study to slow or halt the course of this disease.

The Facts

The exact cause of multiple sclerosis is not known, and no cure has been found. The disease is often cyclic, with symptoms such as double vision, numbness and tingling, weakness and fatigue flaring up during relapses and receding during remittance. For decades, people with MS have tried dietary therapies to slow or halt the course of the disease. Two diets in particular have become well known in America for multiple sclerosis: one regulates fat intake and the other limits gluten.

Types of MS Diets

The Swank MS Diet, developed by Dr. Roy Laver Swank in the 1970s, claims to reduce the symptoms of multiple sclerosis by limiting intake of saturated fat (mostly animal fats found in butter, fatty meats, and whole milk and cheese) to no more than 15 grams a day while increasing unsaturated fat from sources such as olive, fish, sunflower and safflower oils. Dr. Swank studied 150 patients with MS for 34 years and claimed that his diet significantly slowed the course of the disease and lessened disability.

Another diet touted as useful for MS by some nutritionists, including James Braly, MD, author of "Dangerous Grains," eliminates dairy products, legumes, eggs, yeast and grains containing gluten. Other diets, such as an aspartame-free diet and a diet program that identifies and eliminates food allergens, also have been suggested as possible remedies for symptoms of MS.

Effects

In the end, however, despite exhaustive research, no one diet has been found effective in mitigating the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. (Dr. Swank's study of 150 patients is not considered a large enough sample to scientifically prove that this diet is an effective MS treatment.) Other diets, such as the gluten-free diet touted by James Braly in his book "Dangerous Grains," present only anecdotal evidence from people who claim their MS symptoms diminished in frequency and severity when they followed the diet.

Benefits

One thing that cannot be disputed, however, is the effect of a healthy diet on all people, not just those with multiple sclerosis. According to the National Institutes of Health, a diet rich in whole grains, lean protein sources and colorful fruits and vegetables and low in sugar and saturated fat contributes to optimal health and well-being.

Considerations

If you are a MS sufferer, be wary of extreme dietary regimens that call for high doses of vitamins or minerals, drastically reduce caloric intake or that eschew entire food groups. Most doctors suggest that MS patients follow the same sensible, nutritious diet recommended for the general population.