Mohammad Hossein Harirchian; Elmira Karimi; Sama Bitarafan
Abstract
Background: A growing number of clinical trials have investigated the role of diet in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. We systematically reviewed the literature for clinical trials to assess the impact of different kinds of diets on MS-related outcomes.Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of ...
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Background: A growing number of clinical trials have investigated the role of diet in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. We systematically reviewed the literature for clinical trials to assess the impact of different kinds of diets on MS-related outcomes.Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science for relevant studies published before July 2019. The clinical trials included a defined dietary intervention and MS outcomes, including fatigue, relapse rate (RR), quality of life (QOL), and disability.Results: In the present review, 15 trials on 669 MS patients were included. The 2 plant-based diet trials, 1 was low-fat and the other was low-calorie, included in the review showed a large effect (ES: 0.6 to 0.7) on fatigue compared to the regular diet. The other plant-based diet was a low-protein diet and showed moderate to large effects on disability and RR compared to the Western diet. Moreover, 2 studies showed the clinically meaningful effects of the ketogenic diet (KD) on QOL and disability compared to the regular diet. In addition, 2 studies compared fish oil (FO) to placebo and found a small effect on disability (ES: 0.1 to 0.3). There were 2 studies that evaluated evening primrose oil and hemp seed oil and showed medium to large effect (ES: 0.7 to 1.5) on RR compared to olive oil. Finally, we found 2 studies that showed high flavonoid cocoa had a moderate effect (ES: 0.4) on fatigue and a small effect (ES: 0.04) on QOL compared to low flavonoid cocoa.Conclusion: Plant-based diet is a backbone for dietary recommendations in MS patients although low-fat, low-calorie, and KD diets with the addition of fish oil, vegetable oil, and flavonoids could be helpful.
Nasim Rezaeimanesh; Shadi Ariyanfar; Mohammad Ali Sahraian; Abdorreza Naser Moghadasi; Zeinab Ghorbani; Soodeh Razegh-Jahromi
Abstract
Background: The environmental risk factors of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are not fully specified.Regarding the evidence on the possible protective effects of whole grains and legumes against inflammatory disorders, we examined the association between the mentioned dietary components ...
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Background: The environmental risk factors of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are not fully specified.Regarding the evidence on the possible protective effects of whole grains and legumes against inflammatory disorders, we examined the association between the mentioned dietary components and NMOSD. Methods: 70 patients with NMOSD with definite diagnosis and 164 hospital-based controls were included in this case-control investigation. Data on demographic, clinical, and anthropometric characteristics were collected. Dietary habits of participants were assessed using a previously validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) containing 168 food items. Daily intakes of whole grains and legumes were calculated and classified in quartiles. The odds of suffering from NMOSD according to the quartiles of whole grains and legumes were measured in the form of logistic regression models. Results: The mean amount of whole grains (115.29 vs. 44.14 g) and legumes (59.43 vs. 34.50 g) consumption was significantly higher in the control group versus the case group. There was a reverse association between whole grains or legumes and NMOSD odds in both models [P < 0.05, odds ratio (OR) < 1]. In the fully-adjusted model, 90% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.02-0.39] and 92% (95% CI: 0.01-0.52) reduction in NMOSD odds was observed in the third and fourth quartiles of whole grains intake, respectively. Higher intake of legumes in the third and fourth quartiles led to 81% (95% CI: 0.05-0.71) and 95% (95% CI: 0.01-0.27) reduction in the odds of NMOSD, respectively. Conclusion: Aligned with the results of other investigations on inflammatory disorders, our results suggested a negative association between whole grains and legumes and NMOSD odds.
