Potential of modified Mediterranean diet to improve quality of life and fatigue severity in multiple sclerosis patients: a single-center randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Dietary modification may improve quality of life and fatigue severity in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. Given this, there is a growing interest in healthy diets, especially Mediterranean based. The goal of this study was to explore the effects of a modified Mediterranean (mMeD) dietary intervention in Quality Of Life (QOL), and severity of fatigue in MS participants. About 180 Relapsing-Remitting MS patients randomly assigned to follow/not follow the mMeD for 6 months. Primary endpoints were related to dietary adherence and study completion. Clinical endpoints were evaluated Multiple Sclerosis Quality Of Life-54 items, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS-9), and Visual Analog Fatigue Scale. Data were analyzed by SPSS 24. Of 261 screened patients (July 2018–February 2019), 180 were eligible and willing to commit. 68/90 as mMeD and 79/90 as control group completed the study. Self-reported adherence was excellent (95%). The majority of mean changes for QOL were statistically significant (P < .001). As well, Mean change on the FSS-9 was −9.8 ± 11.5 compared to +0.3 ± 4.2 for controls (P < .001). This regimen improved fatigue and some components of QOL in RRMS patients. Larger scale and longer duration trials to assess the role of diet as a disease modifier in MS should be conducted.

Keywords

• diet
• mediterranean
• fatigue
• multiple sclerosis
• quality of life