Scientists have called a diet that reduces disability

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A ketogenic diet that focuses on protein and fat intake and reducing carbohydrates, may be most suitable for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Such data were obtained in a preliminary study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. Research has also shown that this diet can reduce fatigue and depression in people with multiple sclerosis.

“A high-fat, high-protein, low-carb ketogenic diet allows the body to use fat as its primary energy source instead of sugar, thereby mimicking a fasting state,” said study author J. Nicholas Brenton, MD, University of Virginia in Charlottesville. .

He points out that the ketogenic diet helps lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes and improves seizure control in people with epilepsy. However, it has not been sufficiently studied in terms of its effect on people with MS.

The study involved 65 people with multiple sclerosis who had flare-ups and remissions. Study participants followed a ketogenic diet for six months.

Adherence to the diet was monitored using daily urine tests to measure ketones, a metabolite produced by the body when fat is burned. A total of 83% of participants followed the diet throughout the study period.

Participants completed tests and surveys before starting the diet and again at three and six months during the diet to measure disability and quality of life. The researchers found that not only did the participants lose less body fat after six months, but they also had lower levels of fatigue and depression.

The Quality of Life Survey found that the average physical health score rose from 67 at the start of the study to 79 at the end. The results of the general test for the progression of multiple sclerosis also improved. On a scale of zero to 10, the score dropped from 2.3 to 1.9.