The power of healthy habits for people living with multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition affecting the brain and the spinal cord. Conventional pharmaceutical treatments slow the progression but rarely reverse and cannot cure the disease. People living with MS often explore diet and lifestyle interventions as a means of managing their symptoms and reducing reliance on medication and increasingly, lifestyle interventions are recognised as beneficial by medical professionals.

The impact of diet on multiple sclerosis 

We know that people living with MS can benefit from increasing the proportion and variety of healthy plant foods in the diet i.e. fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, whilst limiting or avoiding animal-derived and processed foods. 

Dr Roy Swank, a pioneer of dietary approaches in MS, used a diet low in saturated fat that limited meat consumption and emphasised fruit and vegetable consumption. His observational study is the longest ever reported on diet and MS, following his patients for up to 34 years. The results suggested that patients adhering to his dietary protocol had significantly less neurological disability and longer lives. 

Subsequent studies have shown that these positive results are likely to be explained by the fact that a plant-based diet is rich in nutrients that reduce inflammation and thus leading to improvements in symptoms. In contrast diets high in meat and saturated fats promote inflammation and in general worsen symptoms and quality of life. Dairy may also have a negative impact on symptoms.

The impact of the gut microbiome

Growing evidence suggests that the health of the gut microbiome is a key factor in the development and progression of MS, especially given its importance in maintaining a healthy immune system. Diet is the main determinant of gut health, with a fibre and polyphenol-rich plant-based diet being essential. Meat heavy diets reduce the number of healthy bacterial species in the gut and thus adversely affect the immune system. In contrast plant-based diets support the growth of a variety of healthy gut bacteria, which are associated with better immune health and lower levels of inflammation. 

A randomised study demonstrated that the adoption of a plant-rich, anti-inflammatory diet led to reduced levels of inflammation in the gut of people with MS and that this was also associated with improvements in visual symptoms.

Specific nutrients to emphasise

People living with MS may benefit from higher blood levels of vitamin D, aiming for 100-150nmol/l. This will usually require supplementation, along with judicious exposure to the sun.

Long-chain omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in some, but not all, studies has been shown to reduce fatigue, relapse rate and disability. This can be in the form of high potency fish oil or cold pressed flaxseed oil (20-40mls daily). 

Healthy lifestyle habits

Alongside a healthy, fibre-rich diet, all aspects of lifestyle are important for reducing symptom burden and disability and improving quality of life in people with MS. Regular physical activity, managing stress using mindfulness and meditation techniques, adequate sleep and avoiding tobacco and other toxins all support better health and wellbeing in people with MS. 

Programs such as ‘Overcoming MS’, which support people to adopt healthy lifestyle habits have been hugely valuable. They provide community and purpose along with essential information.

Inspiring hope

To raise awareness of the power of healthy habits, we published two case histories highlighting the remarkable potential of lifestyle changes, including a whole food plant-based diet, to improve symptoms and quality of life, allowing for the discontinuation of medication. This is not the first report of such successes. Dr Saray Stancic, a US-based physician has also previously charted her experience of reversing severe disability from MS using a whole food plant-based diet and lifestyle approach. 

We fully appreciate that not all people living with MS can expect to have such positive results, but these same lifestyle habits are key for reducing the longer term risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, conditions with a higher incidence in people living with MS.

Resources

PBHP UK factsheet on multiple sclerosis

Healing from the Inside Out: Managing autoimmune disease with a whole-food plant-based diet by Karen Lee