Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological autoimmune disease. The protective sheath that covers the nerve fibers is called the myelin sheath. The damage caused by the immune system cells attacking this myelin leads to Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Fatigue, numbness and tingling in the body, balance problems and gait disturbance, speech disorder (scaling in the tongue), dizziness, blurred vision, difficulty in thinking/remembering/learning/focusing, intestinal problems, depression are the symptoms of MS Attacks.
Breakage in the blood-brain barrier, intestinal microbiota, damage to mitochondria, viral infections, inflammation, genetic susceptibility (the disease is not hereditary, but the sensitivity of the person may be hereditary), environmental factors, obesity, vitamin deficiencies, especially low vitamin D increases the risk of MS. These risk factors are directly related to nutrition.
Dietary habits and lifestyle can improve or increase symptoms. Although there is no sufficient and definitive information about the right nutritional approach, nutrition regulation is very effective in increasing the quality of life of MS patients.
In addition to nutritional approaches, rich vegetables and fruits consumption and low fat consumption, such as the Mediterranean Diet, Paleolithic Diet / Wahls Elimination Diet, Swank Diet, McDougall Diet, approaches with high fat content and low carbohydrate and protein content such as the Ketogenic Diet are also applied. The Mediterranean Diet and the Ketogenic Diet are the nutritional approaches that are frequently used and have the most positive/significant effects.
WHAT ARE THE NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS?
• Vegetables and fruits that rich in antioxidants should be consumed.
• Vitamin D (Fish, Fermented Dairy Products, Egg Yolk)
• Vitamin A (Red-Orange-Green vegetables and fruits, fish, eggs, fermented milk products)
• Vitamin C (Green vegetables, red-orange-yellow vegetables/fruits)
• Vitamin B12 (Fish, fermented milk products, eggs)
• High quality fats must be included in the diet. Processed oils should be avoided. For example, olive oil is a type of oil that can be preferred at every meal, but other vegetable oils should not be consumed. Consumption of Nuts/Oil Seeds are recommended.
• Curcumin (Turmeric) should be added to the diet.
• A diet with low Gluten and Glycemic Index should be adopted.
• Carbohydrate requirement should be met from vegetables, fruits and legumes.
• Dietary fiber intake should be increased (It can be met with vegetables, fruits, legumes.)
SHOULD WE USE NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS?
People’s needs, diets and lifestyles are different, so a doctor and dietitian should be consulted before using nutritional supplements.
• Omega-3 Supplement
• Cod Liver Oil (Contains Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Omega-3)
• Probiotic Support Products
• Multivitamins
• Curcumin
In conclusion;
• A diet rich in colorful vegetables and fruits is consumed.
• Animal protein, mainly fish and eggs, is preferred.
• Olive oil is used in almost every meal.
• Nuts/Oil Seeds are preferred.
• Fermented foods are added to the diet (Fermented dairy products and vegetables)
• Legumes should be sprouted
• Simple carbohydrates, ready-made/packaged foods, sugar are completely excluded from the diet.
• Lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and minimal stress are made.
• Attention should be paid to water consumption. Care should be taken to consume 2-2.5 L of water daily.
Note: Sesame is effective to protect from heavy metals during fish consumption. Again, to clean the liver against heavy metal toxicity, the drink made with raw vegetable juices can be drunk in the morning on an empty stomach, before breakfast.
References:
- https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14122384 (2022)
- https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14061150 (2022)
- https://doi.org/10.1111/apha.13939 (2023)
- DOI: 10.7759/cureus.28975 (2022)
- DOI: 10.1177/11795735221092516 (2022)
- Current Approaches In Multiple Sclerosis Nutrition Treatment , ERÜ Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi 2021; 8(2): 48-58,
- MS Beslenme Rehberi, Türkiye MS Derneği, (2021), https://turkiyemsdernegi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MS-BESLENME-REHBERI-2021.pdf
