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Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of heavy metals, sialic acid and other environmental factors in patients with multiple sclerosis. Fiftytwo multiple sclerosis patients and 41 healthy volunteers as the control group were included in the study. Fasting saliva and urine samples were taken to determine sialic acid and heavy metals respectively.The levels of Ag (p<0.001), Al (p<0.001), As (p<0.001), Ba (p<0.05), Cd (p<0.005), Cs (p<0.001), Cu (p<0.05), Mn (p<0.05), Ni (p<0.001), Pb (p<0.001), Rb (p<0.05), Sr (p<0.05), and sialic acid levels (p<0.001) were found significantly higher, Ti (p<0.05) and Fe (p<0.05) lower in MS patients compared to the control group. There was a significant relationship between sialic acid, heavy metals levels, vegetable consumption, bowel habits and multiple sclerosis group. In this study, it was found that high levels of sialic acid and heavy metals, less vegetable consumption and bad bowel habits were risk factors for multiple sclerosis.