Association Between Dietary Intake and Function in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Abstract

IMPORTANCEThere is growing interest in the role of nutrition in the pathogenesis and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).OBJECTIVE To evaluate the associations between nutrients, individually and in groups, and ALS function and respiratory function at diagnosis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A cross-sectional baseline analysis of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Multicenter Cohort Study of Oxidative Stress study was conducted from March 14, 2008, to February 27, 2013, at 16 ALS clinics throughout the United States among 302 patients with ALS symptom duration of 18 months or less.EXPOSURES Nutrient intake, measured using a modified Block Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ).MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis function, measured using the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), and respiratory function, measured using percentage of predicted forced vital capacity (FVC).RESULTS Baseline data were available on 302 patients with ALS (median age, 63.2 years [interquartile range, 55.5-68.0 years]; 178 men and 124 women). Regression analysis of nutrients found that higher intakes of antioxidants and carotenes from vegetables were associated with higher ALSFRS-R scores or percentage FVC. Empirically weighted indices using the weighted quantile sum regression method of "good" micronutrients and "good" food groups were positively associated with ALSFRS-R scores (β [SE], 2.7 [0.69] and 2.9 [0.9], respectively) and percentage FVC (β [SE], 12.1 [2.8] and 11.5 [3.4], respectively) (all P < .001). Positive and significant associations with ALSFRS-R scores (β [SE], 1.5 [0.61]; P = .02) and percentage FVC (β [SE], 5.2 [2.2]; P = .02) for selected vitamins were found in exploratory analyses.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Antioxidants, carotenes, fruits, and vegetables were associated with higher ALS function at baseline by regression of nutrient indices and weighted quantile sum regression analysis. We also demonstrated the usefulness of the weighted quantile sum regression method in the evaluation of diet. Those responsible for nutritional care of the patient with ALS should consider promoting fruit and vegetable intake since they are high in antioxidants and carotenes.

A Quantile-Based g-Computation Approach to Addressing the Effects of Exposure Mixtures

“…One of the analytic approaches developed specifically for estimating effects of exposure mixtures, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, has become increasingly used as an analytic approach for exposure mixtures in relation to health outcomes (Yorita Christensen et al 2013;Deyssenroth et al 2018;Nieves et al 2016). This approach is based on developing an exposure index that is a weighted average of all exposures of interest after each exposure is transformed into a categorical variable defined by quantiles of the exposures.…”

Antioxidant Alternatives in the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Comprehensive Review

“…There is a beneficial association between ALS and the intake of carotenes (Okamoto et al, 2009;Nieves et al, 2016). Thus, their consumption could help the prevention and/or delay the onset of ALS (Fitzgerald et al, 2013) (Table 1) but in a case-controlled study with 77 Koreans diagnosed with ALS, it was determined that dietary intake of carotenes was negatively associated with ALS (Jin et al, 2014).…”

Diet, Microbiota and Brain Health: Unraveling the Network Intersecting Metabolism and Neurodegeneration

“…Consumption of food-derived antioxidants has been associated with a reduction in ALS risk, such as major carotenoids [ 352 ], vitamin E [ 353 ] and flavonoids [ 354 ]. Furthermore, results from a cross-sectional study suggested that a high intake of antioxidants, carotenes, fruits and vegetables was associated with better motor and respiratory functional scores [ 355 ]. Attempts to counteract oxidative stress showed survival benefits in ALS preclinical models, although these failed to be translated in humans [ 356 ].…”