The idea that diets containing essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are good for multiple sclerosis was first reported in the May 1952 issue of the "New England Journal of Medicine." The researchers were reporting on the geographical distribution of multiple sclerosis in Norway and observed MS prevalence was significantly lower in coastal regions where diets were dominated by EFA-rich seafood. Since that time, hundreds of research articles have investigated the link, but the evidence remains inconclusive.
About MS
According to researchers reporting in the November 2010 edition of the "Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology,"multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. It affects primarily young adults -- females twice as often as males. There is no cure, and the course of the disease is usually relapsing-remitting for about 10 years, followed by a secondary progressive phase. While the cause is unknown, risk is associated with genetic and environmental factors. These authors assert that fatty fish EFAs contain considerable amounts of vitamin D, which helps account for the apparent benefit of a fish diet for MS patients.
About EFAs
Essential fatty acids are "essential" because they're needed for the body to develop and function properly. EFAs can't be synthesized in humans and must be obtained from the diet. The EFAs associated with MS benefits are called omega-3 fatty acids and are found in fish oil. Their association with nervous system disorders such as MS concerns the fact that EFAs are the primary structural component of nerve cells. According to the December 2001 issue of "Alternative Medicine Review" a time-honored and effective MS diet includes at least three fish meals per week to help mitigate and prevent additional damage.
Nurses' Health Study
The Nurses' Health Study is an ongoing assessment of health and dietary factors in American nurses. Researchers reporting in the December 2000 issue of the "American Journal of Epidemiology" analyzed data involving 92,422 women between the years of 1980 and 1994, and 95,389 women between 1991 and 1995. Although the analysts documented 195 new MS cases, they found no relationship between fish intake and risk. They also reported that dairy products, red meats, poultry, and processed meats had no relationship to risk. In short, the authors found diet was totally unrelated to risk of developing MS in adults.
Insufficient Data
The authors of an analysis published in the January 2007 issue of "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews" selected six of the hundreds of studies published concerning dietary EFAs and MS for review. The six they selected involved placebo-controlled clinical trials testing the efficacy of EFAs for treating or halting the progression of MS in a total of 699 patients. Upon analysis, the authors reported that the available data are insufficient to prove either harm or benefit. They expressed regret over the inconclusive results because between 50 and 75 percent of patients ingest EFAs hoping for an MS benefit.
References
- "The New England Journal of Medicine"; Multiple Sclerosis in Rural Norway --- Its Geographic and Occupational Incidence in Relation to Nutrition; Roy Swank et al.; May 1952
- "Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology"; The Role of Vitamin D in Multiple Sclerosis"; Margitta Kampman and Linn Steffensen; November 2010
- "Alternative Medicine Review"; Multiple Sclerosis, An Autoimmune Inflammatory Disease: Prospects for its Integrative Management; Parris Kidd; December 2001
- "American Journal of Epidemiology"; Dietary Fat in Relation to Risk of Multiple Sclerosis Among Two Large Cohorts of Women; Shumin Zhang; December 2000
- "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews"; Dietary Interventions for Multiple Sclerosis; Mariangela Farinotti et al.; January 2007
