Mediterranean diet is associated with lower MS risk

[NHE]

Inverse association between Mediterranean diet and risk of multiple sclerosis
Mult Scler. 2023 Aug;29(9):1118-1125.

Objective: There is some evidence implicating diet in the development of inflammatory diseases. We aimed to study the influence of dietary habits on the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: We used a population-based case-control study recruiting incident cases of MS (1953 cases, 3557 controls). Subjects with different dietary habits 5 years prior to MS diagnosis were compared regarding MS risk by calculating odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using logistic regression models. Adjustment was made for a large number of environmental and lifestyle habits, including ancestry, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, physical activity, and sun exposure habits.

Results: Mediterranean diet was associated with lower risk of developing MS (adjusted OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.34-0.86, p = 0.009), compared with Western-style diet. There was no significant association between vegetarian/vegan diet and MS risk (adjusted OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.75-1.24, p = 0.976), nor between diet with low glycemic index and MS risk (adjusted OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.60-1.42, p = 0.518).

Conclusions: Mediterranean diet may exert a protective influence regarding the risk of subsequently developing MS compared with Western-style diet.