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Lifestyle and Mediterranean diet adherence in a cohort of Southern Italian patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Since the Mediterranean diet has been promoted to possess positive effects on chronic diseases, Esposito et al. (2021) analyzed the lifestyle and dietary habits of Southern Italian patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and examined the impact of the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) on multiple sclerosis clinical outcomes. The 435 participants had attended outpatient clinics for routine follow-up visits. During the experiment, the subjects were given a 29-item self-administered questionnaire on life and dietary habits. The results showed that 75.8% of the respondents were interested in nutrition, while 72.8% were non-smokers, 52.9% performed physical activity, and 45.6% used food supplements. People with multiple sclerosis and normal waist circumferences had higher Med Diet Scores (MDS), which is a measure of their adherence to the MeDi and also of their cardiovascular risk. Increased Med Diet Scores also correlated with lower MS Severity Score and Expanded Disability Status Scale. However, no relationship could be identified between the MDS and the total number of relapses. Metabolic comorbidities were associated with an increased 10-year cardiovascular risk. In conclusion, this data suggests that the Mediterranean diet has a positive impact on waist circumference, multiple sclerosis course and disability. Moreover, the MeDi appears to improve MS long-term disability outcomes. [NPID: pain, Mediterranean diet, Med diet, chronic disease, chronic pain, cardiovascular risk, multiple sclerosis]
Year: 2021
