Dietary Fat in the Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis: Has the Situation Been Adequately Assessed?

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that environmental influences contribute to determining the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). The nature of this influence has not been established, although infectious agents have received the most attention with relative neglect of alternative hypotheses. This paper critically reviews the evidence implicating dietary fat in altering susceptibility to MS. It is concluded that a dietary theory accords with current knowledge regarding MS as well as an infective theory and thus should not be dismissed in research examining the aetiology of MS.

A Systematic Review of Several Potential Non-Genetic Risk Factors for Multiple Sclerosis

“…There is a potential for recall bias, since some hypotheses concerning diet have become well-known among people with MS, which may lead to differential misclassification in a study that relies on questionnaire data [96]. One possible way to overcome problems of recall bias is to use more objective methods for dietary assessment, such as adipose tissue biopsies [97]. However, such an invasive procedure may decrease the response rate.…”

Regional Variation in Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence in Australia and Its Association with Ambient Ultraviolet Radiation

“…Within Europe and the United States, there is also an at least twoto threefold gradient of increasing MS prevalence with increasing latitude [3]. These geographical differences were initially interpreted to represent environmental influences which varied by latitude, such as climatic factors [8][9][10][11][12], dietary characteristics [13] and infectious agents [14]. More recent analyses indicate that geographical MS variation, at least in North America, may result from a complex interplay of genes and environment [15].…”

Breast feeding and multiple sclerosis

“…This provides some support for the “dietary fat hypothesis,”2 which posulates that the geographical distribution of multiple sclerosis reflects a relative deficiency of dietary essential fatty acids 2. As breast milk is a rich source of essential fatty acids it may have an effect on cerebral myelination and hence susceptibility in adult life to either viral or autoimmune damage.…”