Polyunsaturated fatty acids and the risk of multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background Results from previous studies on PUFA intake and multiple sclerosis (MS) risk are conflicting. Objective To prospectively investigate the association between dietary intake of PUFA and MS risk. Methods We followed 80,920 women from Nurses' Health Study (1984–2004) and 94,511 women from Nurses' Health Study II (1991–2009) who reported on diet using a validated food frequency questionnaire every 4 years, and identified 479 incident MS cases during follow-up. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), for the effect of PUFA intake on MS risk adjusting for age, latitude of residence at age 15, ancestry, cigarette smoking, supplemental vitamin D intake, body mass index, and total energy intake. Results Higher intake of total PUFA at baseline was associated with a lower risk of MS (HR top vs. bottom quintile: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.49–0.90, p trend=0.01). Among the specific types of PUFA, only α-linolenic acid (ALA) was inversely associated with MS risk (HR top vs. bottom quintile: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.45–0.83, p trend=0.001). The long-chain fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were not associated with MS risk. Conclusion Low dietary PUFA intake may be another modifiable risk factor for MS.

Environmental and genetic risk factors for MS: an integrated review

“…Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are strong immunomodulators in vitro and in animal models. Consistent with this, most, but not all, studies that measured seafood‐based sources or direct micronutrient PUFA intake found a reduced risk of MS with higher fatty fish intake, or cod liver oil supplementation . These findings should be interpreted cautiously, with inconsistencies across studies in the timing of the risk exposure, that is, during childhood, adolescence, or through adulthood.…”

The Influence of Dietary Fatty Acids on Immune Responses

“…Positive correlation with synovial fluid composition and inversed correlation with pain score [291] ↓ Incidence and improved prognosis [292][293][294][295][296] ↓ Duration of morning stiffness and ↓ number of tender and swollen joints [297] Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis ↑ Skeletal muscle growth and functions [298] Sjögren Syndrome ↓ Inflammation and ↑ barrier function in the salivary glands [299,300] Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ↓ Inflammatory mediators, leukocyte chemotaxis and adhesion molecules expression [301] Antiphospholipid Syndrome ↑ Endothelial function [302] Multiple Sclerosis ↑ M2-like macrophages shift, prevented de-myelinization, promoted neuroprotection and re-myelinization ↓ incidence [303][304][305][306] Type 1 Diabetes Protection against T1DM in infants, no protective effect in older children reported [307,308]…”

Diet and disease modification in multiple sclerosis: a nutritional epidemiology perspective

“…Here, the authors were unable to fully describe different types of dietary fat in relation to relapse because the questionnaire lacked sufficient detail. Notably, intake of certain types of fat like that from fish or oil sources may be particularly relevant for MS 2. Furthermore, with respect to MS, its long-term diet rather than intake on any specific day (or small number of days) that is the relevant parameter of interest.…”