Association of nutritional intake with clinical and imaging activity in pediatric multiple sclerosis

Background: Understanding nutrition’s role in multiple sclerosis (MS) can guide recommendations and intervention-based studies. Objective: Evaluate the association between nutrition and pediatric-onset MS outcomes. Methods: Prospective longitudinal multicenter study conducted as part of the US Network of Pediatric MS centers. Predictors were collected using a food screener estimating intake of various dietary food groups (e.g. dairy and fruits) and additional calculated indices (e.g. Healthy Eating Index (HEI)). Outcomes included time-from-enrollment to clinical relapse, new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 lesions, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) increase. Results: 353 children with MS were enrolled (mean ± SD age 15.4 ± 2.9, follow-up 3.9 ± 2.6 years). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that increased dairy by 50% of recommended intake was associated with increased relapse risk by 41% (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.41, 95% CI 1.07–1.86), and risk of T2 progression by 40% (1.40, 1.12–1.74). Increased intake of fruit or vegetable above recommended, and every five-point HEI increase decreased relapse risk by 25% (0.75, 0.60–0.95), 45% (0.55, 0.32–0.96), and 15% (0.84, 0.74–0.96), respectively. No associations were found with EDSS. Conclusion: This work supports the influence of dietary intake on MS course, particularly with dairy intake. Future prospective study is required to establish causation.