Consumption Of Ultra-processed Foods May Exacerbate Disease Activity In Early Multiple Sclerosis

Higher intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) whitethorn exacerbate illness activity successful early aggregate sclerosis (MS), according to caller investigation presented astatine nan 41st Congress of nan European Committee for Treatment and Research successful Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS 2025).

Researchers recovered that accrued UPF depletion was linked to much predominant relapses and greater MRI-detected lesion activity, highlighting nan imaginable domiciled of fare arsenic a complementary strategy successful illness management.

The study, led by Dr. Gloria Dalla Costa, analyzed information from 451 patients pinch clinically isolated syndrome – nan first objective position of MS – who were enrolled successful nan BENEFIT proceedings and followed for up to 5 years. A antecedently validated metabolomic signature of UPF intake, comprising 39 plasma metabolites developed by Harvard colleagues, was applied to baseline plasma samples to cipher individual UPF scores.

While UPF scores were not associated pinch conversion to clinically definite MS, higher scores astatine baseline were linked to greater T1 hypointense lesion volume, suggestive of much terrible insubstantial damage, and little neurological usability scores. Over nan five-year follow-up, participants successful nan highest UPF quartile knowledgeable astir 30% much relapses than those successful nan lowest quartile.

By 2 years, they besides had a higher complaint of caller progressive lesions, representing ongoing inflammation, and a larger summation successful T2 lesion volume, a marker of accumulating insubstantial changes. These associations remained important aft accommodation for age, sex, curen allocation, baseline illness burden, BMI, vitamin D, and smoking.

This shape suggests ultra-processed foods enactment arsenic a chronic inflammatory accelerant alternatively than a illness trigger, amplifying existing inflammatory processes successful MS alternatively than determining whether personification develops nan illness successful nan first place."

Dr. Gloria Dalla Costa

"The biologic mechanisms down this effect whitethorn impact disruption of nan gut obstruction by additives specified arsenic emulsifiers and preservatives, which tin let bacterial endotoxins to participate nan bloodstream and trigger immune activation that reaches nan brain," she explained. "Elevated ceramides and modified lipids propose UPF depletion whitethorn besides change membrane composition, making myelin – nan insulating furniture that forms astir nerves – and nan cells that nutrient it much susceptible to autoimmune attack."

"In addition, metabolic accent signatures specified arsenic elevated C4-OH carnitine constituent to impaired cellular power production, limiting nan brain's expertise to withstand and repair harm during inflammatory episodes. Overall, our findings propose UPF depletion creates a cascade of biologic disruptions that amplify MS inflammatory activity."

Discussing nan objective implications of nan findings, Dr Dalla Costa said, "I would urge UPF simplification arsenic a valuable supporting strategy for early MS management. Similar to vitamin D supplementation aliases smoking cessation advice, this is not astir replacing established therapies, but astir complementing them. It's a low-risk, perchance high-benefit intervention."

Looking ahead, nan squad plans to replicate these results successful different MS cohorts, merge microbiome analysis, and creation involution studies. "We are finalizing a broad manuscript which will supply nan grounds guidelines needed to pass objective believe guidelines and found nan instauration for early dietary involution studies," Dr. Dalla Costa concluded.