Neuromed study links high-fat diets to worsening multiple sclerosis

Research conducted by Neuromed, the University of Rome Tor Vergata, and other institutions suggests that a high-fat diet may worsen the clinical manifestations of multiple sclerosis. The study, published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, indicates that such diets could aggravate the disease by altering gut microbiota and immune cell activity, potentially impacting neuronal communication.

The clinical component of the study involved 226 individuals with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Researchers found that higher body mass index, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels were associated with greater disability at the time of diagnosis.

In a subgroup of 101 patients, researchers measured glutamate levels in cerebrospinal fluid. Among overweight or obese patients, higher glutamate levels correlated with increased disability both at diagnosis and one year later, a relationship not observed in patients with a normal weight. Researchers noted that while glutamate is essential for communication between neurons, excessive or prolonged action can compromise synaptic function.