Summary: A team of researchers at the University of British Columbia found that a healthy diet rich in fibre and iron, such as the Mediterranean diet, can positively impact the composition of bacteria in the gut and is associated with a reduced risk of having pediatric-onset MS. Further research on how diet and gut bacteria can impact MS is needed.
Background: Studies suggest that diet and a disrupted gut microbiome – a community of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract – may influence someone’s susceptibility to MS. To date, the relationship between how diet and bacteria populations in the gut are linked to MS is not well understood.
Details: In a study led by Dr. Helen Tremlett (University of British Columbia), researchers examined how diet and gut bacteria are associated with MS in young people. A total of 95 participants (44 people with pediatric-onset MS and 51 people without MS) from the Canadian Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Network were asked to complete a dietary questionnaire and provide stool samples. Measurements of diet included the Mediterranean diet score and consumption of specific nutrients like fibre, iron, and whole grains.
Results:
- Higher intakes of fibre, iron, and compliance to a Mediterranean diet (i.e., rich in fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grain foods, fish, processed and red meat combined) were associated with a reduced risk of having pediatric-onset MS.
- High intake of fibre and compliance to a Mediterranean diet were associated with lower levels of Methanobrevibacter, a type of gut bacteria that is associated with increased risk of having MS.
- High intake of fibre and compliance to a Mediterranean diet were also associated with higher levels of short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria, which are often depleted in the gut of young people with MS.
Impact: Findings from this study suggest that a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, can impact the risk of having pediatric-onset MS by influencing the composition of bacteria in the gut. More research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of the protective effect of diet and gut bacteria particularly on individuals with or are at high risk of MS.
Reference:
Article published in: Communications medicine on July 19, 2024 – Mediterranean diet and associations with the gut microbiota and pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis using trivariate analysis. Link to article – here.
Additional Information:
Blog - Tremlett’s MS Research Explained
Learn more about other diet regimes in MS – here.