People with multiple sclerosis, a neurological disease that mainly affects the motor system, could improve their quality of life thanks to the ketogenic or keto diet. This has been revealed by a preliminary study that will be presented at the 74th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, which will take place in Seattle from April 2 to 7, 2022.
The research included 65 people diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, which is the most common form of the disease in which there are frequent flare-ups of symptoms and then periods without them. For six months they followed the ketogenic diet, eating this type two or three times a day.
This type of diet was based on one or two servings of low-carbohydrate protein – such as eggs, meat or fish –, two to four tablespoons of fat – butter, avocado, oil or ghee – and one or two cups of non-starchy vegetables. –green leafy vegetables, cucumbers or cauliflower–. Snacks could also be included in the diet as long as the maximum daily amount of carbohydrates, set at 20 grams, was not exceeded.
Less fatigue and depression and more steps thanks to the keto diet
At the beginning of the study, at three months and at six months, the participants completed a series of tests and surveys to measure their level of quality of life and disability due to the disease. The findings indicated that after six months they had less body fat and a reduction in the patients’ feelings of fatigue and depression were observed, in addition, there were improvements in the levels of inflammatory markers in the blood and in the six-minute walk tests, an average of 102 steps was increased with respect to the beginning of the investigation.
After six months on the ketogenic diet, body fat, fatigue and depression were reduced in patients with multiple sclerosis
“A ketogenic diet, which is high in fat, adequate in protein and low in carbohydrates, allows the body to use fat as its main source of energy instead of sugars, thus mimicking a fasted state. A ketogenic diet helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type II diabetes and improves seizure control in people with epilepsy. However, it has not been well studied in people with multiple sclerosis”, explains J. Nicholas Brenton, one of the authors of the study.
With this study is the first evidence that the keto diet is safe and beneficial to reduce some symptoms of multiple sclerosis. However, and according to Brenton, more studies are needed, as this type of diet can also carry risks, such as an increased risk of kidney stones, nutrient deficiencies and digestive problems. For this reason, he recommends that before starting to adopt this diet, patients with sclerosis consult with their doctor and follow up with him to avoid risks.
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