Can Diet Reduce Your Chances to Get Mzs?

[Marco]

What if doctors could change your diet and reduce the chances of developing multiple sclerosis?

That’s what Brigham and Women’s researchers are suggesting, after discovering that the bacteria living in the gut and the way it processes certain foods can control inflammation and neurodegeneration.


“What you eat can affect preexisting conditions,” said corresponding author Francisco Quintana, an investigator in the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital. “At least in this moment, the data we have now, is what you eat and how that is processed by the bacteria you have in your gut affects ongoing inflammation in the brain.”

The finding, published today in the journal Nature Medicine, is presenting researchers with new potential therapies for MS, and may also be relevant to managing or controlling other brain diseases.


Quintana and investigators wanted to explore the suggested connection between the brain and the gut, and so analyzed the star-shaped cells in the brain and spinal cord of mice with multiple sclerosis, called astrocytes.

What scientists discovered was a molecular pathway involving inflammation. When bacteria in the gut broke down tryptophan, an amino acid famously found in turkey, it released a molecule that influenced this pathway. When more of these molecules were present, the brain and spinal cord cells were able to limit inflammation in the brain.

The phenomenon was also present in humans. Patients with MS had decreased levels of these tryptophan-derived molecules.


Quintana said researchers may identify supplements to produce more of this molecule in patients that lack it, or are looking at probiotics that can boost anti-inflammatory pathways.


"humans with MS to see if changes in diet or bacteria do produce an immune response. Researchers are also hopeful about exploring the role food may play in other cognitive roles, such as memory.

“The take-home message, you can think of it like a remote control,” Quintana said. “You have gut bacteria controlling your brain.”




http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/bl...-a-remote.html

[Mermaid Susan]

Diet & MS

Thank you, Marco, for posting about this.

So far, the article seems too general to give me a clear path to what kind of diet is best for my MS. I do know, however, that my practice for the past couple of years (paleo + diary) has been good for me. I don't know whether it contains more tryptophan than other eating plans. But I definitely am eating a lot of protein. I do know that I feel stronger, have lost weight, and my general health is doing well.

I'm interested in eating for health. I hope diet becomes an important part of MS treatment. Eating good food, and eliminating empty foods high in sugar and grain-based carbs, appeals to me more than finding a pill that mimics natural nutrients.

Stay lifted,
Mermaid

[pennstater]

I think this isintetesting. Gut bacteria is suspected in so many conditions. I just hope this doesn't turn into blame the patient.

When I had a conversation with HR at my employer 3 years ago about accommodations and LTD, the HR rep told me I could control MS by cutting fat, salt, sugar, and artificial sweeteners out of my diet. I thanked him, told him a little more complicated, but eating healthy/exercise is important to any disease management. I was a little pissed when I left that meeting. But if it turns out they can ID triggers and diet can prevent it, all for it.

[jjs]

Intersting - thanks for sharing. I've been making and consuming fermented foods for several years now (long before MS showed up). If anyone has good gut flora it should be me!!! But alas, I just seem to be getting worse and worse.
But ... with my current diet I've finally slipped into the normal blood sugar range on the a1c for the first time in "forever". Always been thin, always had sugar issues. Still thin. No sugar issues.
Lots of veg (inc ferments and lots of greens), home butchered meats, home raised eggs, berries, no gluten, little if any grains, fermented goat dairy, good fats, seeds (flax, hemp, chia) a little honey each day (about 1T; our bees). That's pretty much it. Nothing processed or packaged. You'd think I'd feel like a million bucks but hey, maybe I'd be heaps worse if I ate like the typical American?
Anyway - I'll be interested to see what becomes of this. Thanks again!