Researchers in Oklahoma say they may have found a key to preventing multiple sclerosis.
Scientists from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation say they have found a link between ultra-processed foods and autoimmune diseases.
Scott Plafker, Ph.D., and Katarzyna Zyla-Jackson, Ph.D., found that a high-fat, low-carb and fiber-enriched diet prevented the onset of MS symptoms in mouse models of the disease.
The same diet also reduced symptoms in mice who were already showing signs of the disease.
“Genetic changes happen very slowly – just a little bit per generation – so that can’t account for the increased incidence in autoimmune diseases we’ve seen over the last several decades,” Plafker said. “Beyond improved diagnostics, that leaves environmental factors as a primary driver of this increase, and at least for MS, we believe dietary changes may be a leading culprit.”
MS impacts nearly 1 million Americans.