A systematic review explored the impact of various dietary interventions on inflammatory biomarkers in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), indicating potential for positive effects on inflammation in MS patients.

MS research has focused on modulating immune-related inflammation to slow MS progression. Some dietary patterns have shown potential for improving inflammatory biomarkers, but results have varied. This systematic review aims to investigate the impact of dietary interventions on immune-related biomarkers in adults with MS.

The search strategy was guided by PICOS criteria (population, intervention, comparator, outcome, study design) to identify relevant studies. Various databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane/CENTRAL were searched up to October 2023. EndNote software was employed to organize the bibliography. Two reviewers independently screened, selected studies, and extracted data, while assessing risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.

A total of 13 papers published from 2013 to 2023 involving 795 participants were included in the analysis. The studies focused on different types of MS, with 10 targeting relapsing-remitting MS, 2 on secondary progressive MS, and 1 including both types. Various diets were investigated in the studies, including calorie-restricted diets, fasting and fasting-mimicking diets, Persian diets, Mediterranean diets, ketogenic diets, low-fat diets, and modified Paleolithic. Inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, leptin, adiponectin, IL-4, IL-17, and IL-6 were frequently studied. 

Eight studies showed improvements in inflammation status after dietary interventions, while 2 studies found no significant change in inflammatory markers. Two studies suggested a reduction in proinflammatory markers, and 1 study showed improvement in some markers but not others.

“The findings of this systematic review suggest that dietary interventions hold the potential to positively affect the inflammatory processes among people with MS,” said researchers. “Meta-analyses will be conducted to further elucidate the effects of dietary interventions on inflammatory markers in MS.” 

Reference 
Wade PR, Titcomb TJ, Salari-Moghaddam A, et al. The effect of dietary interventions on inflammatory biomarkers in people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review; CMSC 2024; May 29-June 1, 2024; Nashville, TN; Abstract CAM05.