Diet quality and patient health outcomes over 10 years in people with MS

There is some evidence that diet plays a role in the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, these largely come from small studies at single timepoints, preventing conclusion of causal relationships.   

This study will employ a large cohort study of more than 2000 people living with MS in the UK with clinical follow-up measurements of multiple patient-reported outcomes since 2011. Advanced statistical methods will be applied to diet intake data acquired in 2016 and 2022 to extract diet quality characteristics and evaluate the links between diet quality and relapse, disability, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and quality of life over 10 years of follow-up.   

These results will then be applied to the development of a web-based interface which people living with MS can use to predict how their MS might progress based on their reported food and beverage intake.  

Dr Steve Simpson-Yap and his team will also undertake discussions with people living with MS and their carers to better inform ways people living with MS can improve their diet which are practicable given their clinical and demographic circumstances.   

These results will directly inform people living with MS, medical practitioners, and researchers about the link between diet and the range of clinical outcome measures in MS. It will also provide a context by which these and other diet results can be applied to realise achievable positive lifestyle change.