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Prevalence and User Characteristics of Specific Diets in People with Multiple Sclerosis
Dr. Kathryn Fitzgerald, ScD, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, Dr. Tuula Tyry, PhD, MAEd, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center (AZ, USA), Phoenix, AZ, Dr. Amber Salter, PhD, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, Dr. Stacey S Cofield, PhD, UAB, Birmingham, AL, Dr. Robert Fox, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, Prof. Gary R Cutter, UAB School of Public Health, BIRMINGHAM, AL and Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Background: Little is known about use and perceived effectiveness of specific diets in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Objectives: To describe the prevalence of specific diets in people with MS and clinical characteristics associated with those who used them.
Methods: In 2015 participants in the North American Research Committee on MS (NARCOMS) registry were asked about 19 specific diets or diet plans they followed since being diagnosed with MS. Diet options included those recommended for general health (e.g. Mediterranean, DASH), MS specific (e.g. Swank, Wahl’s) to popular (e.g. Atkins, weight loss programs [Weight watchers, etc]). For each, participants reported whether they currently followed it, had previously followed it, the reason for following it and whether it was felt to be effective for weight management, general health or their MS.
Results: Among 7418 responders (68% response rate), 3243 (44%) reported current or previous exposure to at least one of the diets: 1919 (26%) were currently following one of the diets, 2387 (32%) had tried to follow at least one and 1229 (38%) had tried more than one of the diets before. The most prevalent current diet was a gluten-free diet (n=395; 21%) where 228 (58%) of those following the diet cited MS as the reason and 348 (88%) felt it was effective. The most prevalent previously followed diet was a weight loss plan diet (n=1077; 45%); 107 (10%) cited MS as the reason for following the diet while 901 (84%) cited weight loss, and 783 (73%) felt it was effective. For MS specific diets, 248 (8%) report currently or having previously followed the Wahl’s diet with 152 (61%) reporting feeling that the diet was effective in helping MS, and 484 (15%) reported currently or having previously followed the Swank diet with 243 (50%) reporting feeling that the diet was effective in helping MS. Responders with current or previous exposure to at least one of the diets tended to have relapsing remitting MS (vs. progressive; P<0.01). They relapsed at similar frequency (P=0.93), had lower patient-determined disease steps (P<0.01) and were more overweight (P<0.01) when compared to those with no exposure to the specific diets listed.
Conclusion: In this large survey, nearly half of the respondents report having followed a specific diet plan since being diagnosed with MS. Many responders report trying multiple diets with variable perceived effectiveness. Prospective studies are needed to assess how adherence to a specific diet may affect MS symptoms as well as general health.
Dr. Kathryn Fitzgerald, ScD, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, Dr. Tuula Tyry, PhD, MAEd, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center (AZ, USA), Phoenix, AZ, Dr. Amber Salter, PhD, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, Dr. Stacey S Cofield, PhD, UAB, Birmingham, AL, Dr. Robert Fox, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, Prof. Gary R Cutter, UAB School of Public Health, BIRMINGHAM, AL and Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Background: Little is known about use and perceived effectiveness of specific diets in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Objectives: To describe the prevalence of specific diets in people with MS and clinical characteristics associated with those who used them.
Methods: In 2015 participants in the North American Research Committee on MS (NARCOMS) registry were asked about 19 specific diets or diet plans they followed since being diagnosed with MS. Diet options included those recommended for general health (e.g. Mediterranean, DASH), MS specific (e.g. Swank, Wahl’s) to popular (e.g. Atkins, weight loss programs [Weight watchers, etc]). For each, participants reported whether they currently followed it, had previously followed it, the reason for following it and whether it was felt to be effective for weight management, general health or their MS.
Results: Among 7418 responders (68% response rate), 3243 (44%) reported current or previous exposure to at least one of the diets: 1919 (26%) were currently following one of the diets, 2387 (32%) had tried to follow at least one and 1229 (38%) had tried more than one of the diets before. The most prevalent current diet was a gluten-free diet (n=395; 21%) where 228 (58%) of those following the diet cited MS as the reason and 348 (88%) felt it was effective. The most prevalent previously followed diet was a weight loss plan diet (n=1077; 45%); 107 (10%) cited MS as the reason for following the diet while 901 (84%) cited weight loss, and 783 (73%) felt it was effective. For MS specific diets, 248 (8%) report currently or having previously followed the Wahl’s diet with 152 (61%) reporting feeling that the diet was effective in helping MS, and 484 (15%) reported currently or having previously followed the Swank diet with 243 (50%) reporting feeling that the diet was effective in helping MS. Responders with current or previous exposure to at least one of the diets tended to have relapsing remitting MS (vs. progressive; P<0.01). They relapsed at similar frequency (P=0.93), had lower patient-determined disease steps (P<0.01) and were more overweight (P<0.01) when compared to those with no exposure to the specific diets listed.
Conclusion: In this large survey, nearly half of the respondents report having followed a specific diet plan since being diagnosed with MS. Many responders report trying multiple diets with variable perceived effectiveness. Prospective studies are needed to assess how adherence to a specific diet may affect MS symptoms as well as general health.