Prospective associations of better quality of the diet with improved quality of life over 7.5 years in people with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND

There is increasing interest in the role of diet in multiple sclerosis (MS) progression and whether a healthier diet may lead to improved health and wellbeing in people living with MS (plwMS).

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prospective relationship of the quality of dietary intakes with quality of life (QoL) in an international cohort of plwMS followed over 7.5 years.

METHODS

Data from the Health Outcomes and Lifestyle In a Sample of people with Multiple sclerosis (HOLISM) cohort from baseline to 7.5-year review were analysed. Quality of the diet was assessed using the Diet Habits Questionnaire (DHQ). QoL was measured by the MSQOL-54, including physical and mental health composite scores and multiple subdomains. Linear regression was used to determine cross-sectional and prospective relationships with QoL, adjusted for clinical and demographic covariates.

RESULTS

Amongst 948 participants, median physical- and mental-health QoL scores at 7.5-year review were 66.9 and 78.2, respectively. Baseline total DHQ was positively associated with subsequent change in physical-QoL to 7.5-year review, such that participants in the top two quartiles of baseline DHQ had 0.65 and 0.64 higher physical-QoL per year, though a similar association with mental-QoL did not persist on adjustment. Baseline meat consumption was associated with 0.38 lower physical-QoL per year, while baseline dairy consumption was associated with 0.50 and 0.41 lower physical- and mental-QoL per year, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest efforts to improve the quality of dietary intake could be beneficial to the wellbeing of plwMS. Subject to replication, this aspect of lifestyle could be a useful intervention in better managing MS.