Pro-Inflammatory Diet Increases MS Relapse Risk

A pro-inflammatory diet is associated with a higher relapse risk and more inflammatory brain lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Results from the prospective cohort study were published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal.

“We found evidence to suggest that a more pro-inflammatory diet was associated with a higher hazard of relapse and greater [fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)] lesion volume in the periventricular region in people with MS,” wrote Alice M. Saul, PhD candidate, medical researcher, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Australia, and co-authors. “Pro-inflammatory food parameters of the DII include saturated fat, total fat, trans fat, total energy, cholesterol, vitamin B12, and protein.”

The authors utilized data from the Ausimmune Longitudinal Study to follow a cohort of 223 individuals with a first clinical diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) demyelination. The cohort was followed annually for 10 years, with reviews at baseline, year 5, and year 10. Reviews included calculation of Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) scores through a food frequency questionnaire, which were then assessed as predictors of relapses through comparison with annual change in disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale), FLAIR lesion volume, and black hole lesion volume.

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The results revealed that higher DII scores were associated with a higher relapse risk; those in the highest DII quartile were at 2.45 times greater risk of relapse than those in the lowest quartile (95% CI= -1.16, 4.33, p=0.02). Researchers also found that among those with a first demyelinating event at study entry, there was an association between E-DII score and FLAIR lesion volume (b=0.38, 95% CI = 0.04, 0.72, p=0.03).

The authors found no evidence of association between DII scores and annual change in EDSS, or black hole lesion volume.

“Further prospective studies, including randomized control trials, are important to confirm that anti-inflammatory diets are beneficial on relapse rate and MRI markers in people with MS,” the authors wrote in the study discussion. “While an anti-inflammatory diet does not replace anti-inflammatory medications in MS, this study provides evidence that an anti-inflammatory diet could contribute to the health and well-being of people with MS.”

References

Saul AM, Taylor BV, Blizzard L, et al. A pro-inflammatory diet in people with multiple sclerosis is associated with an increased rate of relapse and increased FLAIR lesion volume on MRI in early multiple sclerosis: a prospective cohort study. Mult Scler J. Published online May 6, 2023. doi: 10.1177/13524585231167739

New study finds diet, in particular pro-inflammatory diet increases relapse rate for multiple sclerosis patients. News release. Hackensack Meridian Health. May 24, 2023. Accessed June 6, 2023.