Higher Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Diet Is Associated with Slower Disease Progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Abstract

ObjectiveHigh‐caloric diets may slow the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; however, key macronutrients have not been identified. We examined whether dietary macronutrients are associated with the rate of progression and length of survival among the prospective cohort study participants.MethodsParticipants with a confirmed diagnosis of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis enrolled in the Multicenter Cohort Study of Oxidative Stress were included (n=304). We evaluated baseline macronutrient intake assessed by food frequency questionnaire in relation to change in revised amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale total‐score, and tracheostomy‐free survival using linear regression and Cox proportional hazard models. Baseline age, sex, disease duration, diagnostic certainty, body mass index, bulbar onset, revised amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale total‐score, and forced vital capacity were included as covariates.ResultsBaseline higher glycemic index and load were associated with less decline of revised amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale total‐score at 3‐month follow‐up (β= ‐0.13, 95% Confidence Interval [‐0.2, ‐0.01], p=0.03) and (β= ‐0.01, [‐0.03, ‐0.0007], p=0.04) respectively. Glycemic index second‐quartile, third‐quartile, and fourth‐quartile groups were associated with less decline at 3‐month by 1.9 ([‐3.3, ‐0.5], p=0.008), 2.0 ([‐3.3, ‐0.6], p=0.006), and 1.6 ([‐3.0, ‐0.2], p=0.03) points compared to the first‐quartile group; glycemic load fourth‐quartile group had 1.4 points less decline compared to the first‐quartile group ([‐2.8, 0.1], p=0.07). Higher glycemic index was associated with a trend toward longer tracheostomy‐free survival (Hazard ratio 0.97, [0.93, 1.00], p=0.07).InterpretationHigher dietary glycemic index and load are associated with slower disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Are dietary factors associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?

“…Similar differences in dietary intake based on DGI and DGL levels have also been documented in earlier research with different study populations ( Lee et al, 2023 ; Sluijs et al, 2013 ; Zhao et al, 2022 ). For instance, an earlier study found that dietary protein, saturated fat, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber intakes were higher in the first quartile DGI and DGL than the others ( Zhao et al, 2022 ).…”