By the Accordant Medical Team
People with mutiple sclerosis (MS) have tried every imaginable kind of diet in hopes of relieving their symptoms. But no vegetarian, fasting, high fiber, or "fad" diet has been able to cure MS or slow its progress. There is one diet, however, that may benefit some patients. Dr. Roy Swank of Oregon Health Sciences University developed a low fat diet for people with MS. One hundred forty-four patients with minimum, moderate or severe MS followed Dr. Swank's diet for 34 years. Those who ate no more than 20 grams of daily fat experienced much less deterioration over the years than those who ate more than 20 grams a day. The people in this study who fared best had the least disability when they first began the diet. A low fat diet is healthy and within accepted dietary norms. Both the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society recommend it. It poses no nutritional risks, so patients with MS can safely follow a low fat diet. Even if it fails to improve one's MS, a low fat diet will certainly benefit overall good health
References
"Diet, Nutrition and MS," MS Community Library, Accordant Health Services (http://www.accordant.com)
Reviewed by a member of the
First published July 1, 2001
Last updated May 5, 2003
Copyright © 2001 Accordant Health Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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