Cell Reports (Jun 2016)

A Diet Mimicking Fasting Promotes Regeneration and Reduces Autoimmunity and Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

  • In Young Choi,
  • Laura Piccio,
  • Patra Childress,
  • Bryan Bollman,
  • Arko Ghosh,
  • Sebastian Brandhorst,
  • Jorge Suarez,
  • Andreas Michalsen,
  • Anne H. Cross,
  • Todd E. Morgan,
  • Min Wei,
  • Friedemann Paul,
  • Markus Bock,
  • Valter D. Longo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.05.009
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 10
pp. 2136 – 2146

Abstract

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Dietary interventions have not been effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Here, we show that periodic 3-day cycles of a fasting mimicking diet (FMD) are effective in ameliorating demyelination and symptoms in a murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. The FMD reduced clinical severity in all mice and completely reversed symptoms in 20% of animals. These improvements were associated with increased corticosterone levels and regulatory T (Treg) cell numbers and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TH1 and TH17 cells, and antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Moreover, the FMD promoted oligodendrocyte precursor cell regeneration and remyelination in axons in both EAE and cuprizone MS models, supporting its effects on both suppression of autoimmunity and remyelination. We also report preliminary data suggesting that an FMD or a chronic ketogenic diet are safe, feasible, and potentially effective in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients (NCT01538355).