A study conducted in Iran suggests that individuals who adopt a Mediterranean-style diet may have a significantly lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Those lacking certain key nutrients in their diets are at a notably higher risk of the disease.
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The findings, published in Health Science Reports, build on existing research indicating a connection between the Mediterranean diet and reduced MS risk, highlighting diet as a potentially modifiable factor in MS prevention. The study examined dietary habits among 197 adults newly diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS and 200 adults without neurological diseases.
Participants completed questionnaires about their eating habits, which allowed researchers to calculate two important scores: the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) and the Micronutrient Adequacy Ratio (MAR). The MDS represents how closely an individual’s eating habits align with the Mediterranean diet, while the MAR indicates the adequacy of micronutrient intake.
According to the results, individuals in the highest MDS tertile had a 47% lower likelihood of developing MS compared to those in the lowest tertile. Similarly, participants in the highest MAR tertile were 75% less likely to develop MS than those with the lowest intake of micronutrients.
The researchers noted that these findings support the importance of diet in MS prevention and suggest that public health initiatives should promote Mediterranean dietary patterns and adequate micronutrient intake, particularly among populations at higher risk for MS. They also emphasized the need for dietary counseling in MS care.
However, the researchers cautioned that the study does not prove causation and that its findings, based on participants in Iran, may not apply universally due to differing cultural dietary habits. The team called for further longitudinal and interventional studies to better understand the relationship between diet and MS.