If you are suffering from multiple sclerosis then better read this. A recent study has found that fatty diets and junk food could increase the risk of health deterioration in children who suffer from multiple sclerosis. The study also found that eating fruits, vegetables, and nutrient-rich foods could reduce the risk of further damage almost half. The conclusions drawn from the study may help patients suffering from multiple sclerosis to manage their lives in a better way. The research was done at the University of California, San Francisco. The team of researchers was led by a neurologist, Dr. Emmanuelle Waubant.
At the moment more than 2.3 million in the world are suffering from multiple sclerosis. The disease attacks the central nervous system leading to defects in vision and body movements. If not detected at an early stage and diagnosed, the disease can lead to disability. The study saw that young people who ate more fatty foods were more prone to relapse in health while suffering from multiple sclerosis. The effects on children were even more serious as compared to adults.
The study was conducted on 219 patients and located at 11 centers across the country. The patients were suffering from multiple sclerosis and their diets were monitored. Interestingly, the patients who part of the study were mostly children under 18 years of age. The doctors studied eating habits and monitored closely what the patient’s lifestyle was. This monitoring was done for two years before researchers came to any kind of conclusion.
The patients who were having more fatty diets showed a relapse. Doctors found that a 10 percent hike in calorie intake increased the relapse risk to almost 56 percent. The majority of the patients who suffered from relapse were consuming saturated fats. Saturated fats are found in food items like baked products, beef, cheese, and butter. The risk of relapse was tripled if there was a spike of 10 percent in saturated fat intake. However, it was also observed that every cup of vegetable cut the risk of relapse by almost 50 percent. Age, weight, and medication were also seen as a significant contributor to relapse.
The researchers said that excess fat intake leads to more release of inflammatory chemicals in the gut. This affects the activity of bacteria and leading to more chronic inflammatory conditions. The researchers finally came to the conclusion that the role of diet is an active area that affects patients suffering from multiple sclerosis.
Carolyn is a technology graduate and loves to write about anything related to technology as well as writes in others sectors. Carolyn is a professional writer with over 7 years of experience. Initially starting off as a programmer, Carolyn decided to combine her knowledge about technology and writing and that’s how she joined Reporter Expert.
