A Mediterranean diet was associated with lower odds of developing MS in a study of adults in Iran.
People whose diets most closely followed the Mediterranean pattern had 47 per cent lower odds of MS than those who followed it least closely.
Adequate intake of key vitamins and minerals was also associated with lower odds of the neurological condition.
Researchers in Iran studied 197 adults newly diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and 200 adults without neurological diseases.
Participants completed questionnaires about their eating habits. Researchers then calculated a Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) and Micronutrient Adequacy Ratio (MAR) for each person.
The MDS measured how closely their eating habits resembled a Mediterranean diet, which typically emphasises lean proteins, fruit, vegetables and olive oil while limiting processed foods and animal fats.
The MAR measured whether participants were consuming adequate amounts of micronutrients, the vitamins and minerals the body needs in small quantities.
Participants were divided into three groups according to their MDS and MAR scores. Researchers then analysed their odds of MS while accounting for factors including age and smoking status.
Those in the highest MDS group had 47 per cent lower odds of MS than participants in the lowest group.
People in the highest MAR group had 75 per cent lower odds of MS than those with the lowest scores.
The researchers wrote: “Our findings suggest that higher MDS and MAR are associated with a reduced risk of MS, providing further support for the role of diet in MS prevention.”
“Public health initiatives should consider promoting Mediterranean dietary patterns and ensuring adequate micronutrient intake, particularly in populations at higher risk for MS.”
“Integrating dietary counselling into MS care, tailored to optimise micronutrient adequacy, could complement existing treatment strategies.”
However, the researchers stressed that the findings do not demonstrate that dietary changes can prevent MS.
The study was also limited to participants in Iran, meaning cultural differences in eating habits may limit how widely the findings can be applied.
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