Effects of Red Meat Diet Restriction on Multiple Sclerosis Severity (P1.404)

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between red meat restriction in diet and disease severity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Background: Multiple genetic and environmental factors have been suggested to play a role in pathophysiology of MS. There is evidence that some nutritional elements, present in animal-derived products, can stimulate chronic inflammation and increase the risk of MS. Design/Methods: Data from MS patients enrolled in Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (CLIMB) study who completed a questionnaire on dietary habits throughout their lives were included. Using a multiple linear regression model, MS severity scale (MSSS) at the time of questionnaire was compared between patients who had a diet restriction (n=70) and patients who never had any diet restriction (n=122). We ran the same analysis between the groups who reported red meat diet restriction (n=34) and never restricted red meat group (n=122). Furthermore, the number of relapses were compared via a Wilcoxon signed-rank test in patients who reported information on their restriction start dates (n=15) via the following intervals: 2 years prior and after the self-reported red meat restriction age. Results: The majority of patients in both groups were older, relapsing-remitting MS female patients with a BMI classified as overweight (BMI > 25.0). There was no significant difference in log-transformed MSSS between patients who had a diet restriction and patients who never had a diet restriction (mean difference= -0.15, 95[percnt]CI=(-0.51,0.21); p=0.42). This difference was also not significant for red meat restricted diet patients compared to the patients who never restricted red meat (mean difference=0.15, 95[percnt]CI=(-0.33,0.62); p=0.55). Red-meat restriction did not significantly affect number of attacks in the periods of 2-years before compared to 2-years after start of a diet (p=0.94). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that red-meat diet restriction has no significant effect on disease severity.

Disclosure: Dr. Sattarnezhad has received research support from Merck Serono. Dr. Caron has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chua has nothing to disclose. Dr. Healy has received research support from Merck Serono, Novartis and Genzyme. Dr. Cook has received research support from Merck Serono and Biogen Idec. Dr. Tankou has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kaplan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Diaz-Cruz has received research support from Merck Serono. Dr. Glanz has received research support from Merck Serono. Dr. Weiner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chitnis has received personal compensation for activities with Novartis and Biogen. Dr. Chitnis has received research support from Merck-Serono and Novartis Pharmaceuticals.