Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects a person's nervous system. A person with MS experiences unpredictable attacks of inflammation around his nerves and the destruction of the myelin sheath that facilitates communication between the brain and the body. This can result in any number of symptoms, including pain, loss of motor skills, numbness, memory loss or blurred vision. Scientists do not know what causes MS and there is no known cure. However, some people claim that their attacks are worsened by certain food allergens, which they label "trigger foods."
Trigger Foods
People with MS should stay away from five food groups that may trigger an MS attack, according to "The MS Recovery Diet" by Ann Sawyer and Judi Bachrach. These are gluten, dairy, eggs, legumes and yeast. These groups encompass common foods such as wheat, rye, barley, milk, cheese, eggs, peanuts, beans, lentils, peas and leavened bread, as well as foods with ingredients derived from these products. Although these are the most common trigger foods, Sawyer and Bachrach acknowledge that every person's sensitivities may be different and foods that are not on this list may also trigger an attack.
Rationale
The theory behind trigger foods is that these substances activate the immune system, causing it to create antibodies that fight both the foods and the person's own body. These foods are not thought to be the cause of the disease, but rather substances that activate an inherited or developed disorder. Sawyer and Bachrach admit that they do not know exactly why these foods seem to trigger MS symptoms, but offer several theories. One theory is that the proteins found in these foods appear similar to foreign substances, which the immune system is designed to attack. Once the immune system creates antibodies specific to the "invading" protein, it also sends them against substances in the human body that resemble that protein. Another theory is that the proteins in these foods are mildly toxic, which they believe may explain their role in food allergies.
Scientific Research
There has been little scientific research on the role of food in triggering MS attacks. The studies that have been done have had mixed results. For example, a study published in "Acta Neurologica Scandinavica" found significant increases in the number of antibodies against gluten and casein -- a protein found in milk -- among MS patients. However, another study, published in "Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery" found no significant increases in gluten antibodies. A third study, which appeared in "The Lancet," found increases in gluten antibodies among people with unknown autoimmune diseases, but not among MS patients. It is therefore difficult to say with any certainty whether or not a particular food complicates MS.
Pros and Cons
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, diets that claim to reduce the symptoms of MS, including those which avoid trigger foods, are mostly based on personal success stories and not on medical science. Avoiding these five food groups is also difficult to do, especially for vegetarians. However, unlike other diets, which may promote excessive supplementation or unhealthy eating habits, avoiding these foods is not unhealthy if you replace them with healthy foods, exercise and sunlight, as "The MS Recovery Diet" suggests. Avoiding common food allergens may even be beneficial in individual cases.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Multiple Sclerosis
- The MS Recovery Diet; What Is the MS Diet?; Ann Sawyer and Judy Bachrach
- "Acta Neurologica Scandinavica"; IgA Antibodies Against Gliadin and Gluten in Multiple Sclerosis; K. L. Reichelt, et al; July 2004
- "Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery"; Multiple Sclerosis and Gluten Sensitivity; Afshin Borhani Haghighi, et al; October 2007
- "The Lancet"; Does Cryptic Gluten Sensitivity Play a Part in Neurological Illness?; M. Hadjivassiliou; February 1996
- Diets In Review.com: The MS Recovery Diet
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Diet and Nutrition
