Multiple Sclerosis
Episodes
Dr. Longo discusses his work that indicates that the fasting-mimicking diet holds promise for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis.
Dr. Valter Longo discusses how cellular repair mechanisms may have evolved during times of fasting, but are latent in times of food abundance.
Fasting mimicking diet treatment for multiple sclerosis (remyelinating axons & halting autoimmunity)
Dr. Valter Longo describes how the fasting-mimicking diet can be beneficial in the treatment of various diseases, including multiple sclerosis.
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Dr. Longo discusses his work that indicates that the fasting-mimicking diet holds promise for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis.
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Dr. Valter Longo discusses how cellular repair mechanisms may have evolved during times of fasting, but are latent in times of food abundance.
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Fasting mimicking diet treatment for multiple sclerosis (remyelinating axons & halting autoimmunity)Dr. Valter Longo describes how the fasting-mimicking diet can be beneficial in the treatment of various diseases, including multiple sclerosis.
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Dr. Valter Longo explains the benefits of a prolonged fast.
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Nutrition Alzheimer's Diet Microbiome Sleep Ketosis Omega-3 Fasting Micronutrients Multiple Sclerosis NSAID SaunaDr. Rhonda Patrick makes her eighth appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience.
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Aging Nutrition Cancer Podcast Fasting Multiple Sclerosis Autophagy Video Triglycerides Fatty Liver Time-Restricted Eating ProteinDr. Guido Kroemer discusses immunology, cancer biology, calorie-restriction mimetics, aging, and autophagy.
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Dr. Valter Longo discusses the role of fasting and the fasting-mimicking diet in longevity, cancer & multiple sclerosis.
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Nutrition Brain Diet Epigenetics Cholesterol Omega-3 Inflammation Micronutrients Multiple Sclerosis Mitochondria Vitamin K Antioxidant AutoimmunityDr. Terry Wahls discusses the nutrition protocol she used to reverse her secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis.
Topic Pages
News & Publications
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Milk May Exacerbate Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms www.sciencedaily.com
Antibodies that destroy myelin in multiple sclerosis may cross-react with casein, a milk protein.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative and autoimmune disease caused when the immune system attacks myelin proteins on nerves, mistaking them for proteins produced by pathogens. The cause of this immune confusion is complex but may involve exposure to proteins found in cow’s milk, which anecdotally worsen MS symptoms for some patients. New research supports this anecdotal evidence, finding that MS autoantibodies cross-react with casein, the principal protein in cow’s milk.
In order to create antibodies that react to new pathogens, B cells (a type of immune cells) use somatic hypermutation, a process during which they intentionally mutate regions of their DNA involved in antibody production. These rapid mutations are needed to increase antibody repertoire, the collection of an individual’s B cell receptor and antibody sequences; however, somatic hypermutation can result in the creation of autoantibodies, which bind to self-proteins produced by the body. While autoimmune B cells are usually destroyed shortly after creation, lingering autoimmune cells can proliferate and lead to diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and MS. One reason autoantibodies persist is cross-reactivity with other proteins, such as those produced by pathogens or absorbed from the diet, especially in cases where gut leakiness increases the introduction of new proteins to the blood.
The investigators gave one group of mice an injection of casein with adjuvants, which are compounds added to vaccines to increase the body’s antibody response. To compare casein to other milk proteins, they also immunized one group of mice with alpha-lactalbumin and another with beta-lactoglobulin, both whey proteins, for a total of three mouse groups. Changes in behavior and nerve degeneration were observed at 13, 20, or 40 days after immunization. The researchers also collected blood samples from 39 patients with MS and 23 patients with other neurological diseases in order to test for cross-reactivity of autoantibodies with casein.
Mice immunized with casein exhibited a range of MS symptoms such as weakness and disorientation, while mice immunized with whey proteins did not. Immunization with casein led to a progressive increase in casein-reactive antibodies and deterioration of myelin in nerves of the lower spinal cord. The researchers found that casein-immunized mice produced autoantibodies that cross-react with myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), a protein produced by nerve cells called oligodendrocytes, which have a similar structure to casein. Finally, they found that 42 percent of participants with MS had casein-reactive antibodies compared to only 28 percent of participants with other neurological disorders.
While it is not clear from these results what role dairy consumption plays in the development of MS, the authors suggest that some patients with MS may benefit from restricting dairy in their diet.
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Sunlight reduces the risk of developing early-onset multiple sclerosis. www.sciencedaily.com
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light is critical for maintaining many aspects of human health. For example, compounds present in the skin react to UV light, initiating the production of vitamin D, a steroid hormone that participates in many physiological processes. Similarly, photoreceptors in the eyes respond to UV exposure, modulating the regulation of circadian rhythms. Findings from a new study suggest that early life exposure to ultraviolet light reduces the risk of developing early-onset multiple sclerosis (MS).
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the progressive destruction of myelin – the insulating sheath that surrounds nerves and facilitates neural transmission. The disease affects approximately 3 million people worldwide and is twice as likely to manifest in women than men. Symptom onset typically occurs between the ages of 20 and 50 years, but as many as [5 percent of people with MS experience early onset](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11205364/], with symptoms manifesting during childhood or young adulthood.
The study involved 322 children and young adults with MS (ages 3 to 22 years) and 534 healthy participants of similar ages and sexes. All the participants (or their parents) provided information about their medical history, place of residence, and sun exposure.
The authors found that among the participants who reported having spent fewer than 30 minutes outside per day during the previous summer, 19 percent had MS, while only 6 percent did not. When they accounted for other risks associated with MS, such as smoking or being female, they found that those who spent 30 to 60 minutes outside per day were 52 percent less likely to develop MS, compared to those who spent fewer than 30 minutes outside per day.
These findings suggest that early life UV exposure reduces the risk of developing MS. Although these findings were based on observational data and do not assign causality, the authors of the study pointed out that they align with results of other studies suggesting that low UV exposure is associated with other neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia. Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, evidence suggests that the fasting-mimicking diet may be beneficial in treating the condition. Learn more about the fasting-mimicking diet in this episode featuring Dr. Valter Longo.
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Intermittent fasting (every other day) increased gut bacteria diversity and reduced inflammation, demyelination, and axonal damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) animal model. A small pilot trial in humans with MS showed many similar changes to the gut microbiome and blood adipokines such as leptin. The effects of fasting on immune cells included a reduction of pro-inflammatory IL-17-producing T cells and increased numbers of T regulatory cells which prevent autoimmunity.
The small pilot trial in humans showed increased bacteria richness in species that have previously been shown to promote T regulatory cell accumulation in the colon.
Interestingly, this study did what is called a metagenomic analysis and found that the ketone pathway was enhanced in the gut microbiome by intermittent fasting. This is super interesting because bacteria in the gut normally produce short chain fatty acids and ketones from fermentable fiber but suggests that the gut microbiome regulates its own ketone body metabolism during fasting!