The effect of adherence to mediterranean diet on quality of life and some biochemical parameters in multiple sclerosis patients

The study was conducted to determine the relationship between adherence to Mediterranean diet on quality of life and some biochemical parameters in multiple sclerosis patients. It was conducted with 95 patients, 76 women and 19 men, who applied to Başkent University Ankara Hospital Neurology Department between December 2020 and January 2021, who have been diagnosed with MS for at least 2 years and are between the ages of 18-65. The demographic and general information, information about the disease status, nutritional habits, and anthropometric measurements of the individuals were recorded in the questionnaire form. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated with the 14-Item Mediterranean Diet Assessment Tool (MEDAS), quality of life with the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life (MSQOL) Instrument-54, and physical activity status with the Brief Physical Activity Assessment Tool. Routine biochemical parameters (creatinine, sodium, potassium, calcium, AST, ALT, GGT, CRP, LDL, TG, TSH, B12, folic acid, vitamin D) followed up obtained from the patient record by the researcher. EDSS scores were evaluated by neurologist. It was determined that 49.5% (n=47) of the patients were non-adherer with the Mediterranean diet, 28.4% (n=27) were acceptable and 22.1% (n=21) were strictly adherer. The average physical health composite score of patients non-adherers was 67.1±17.69, the average of patients who accetable adherence was 80.60±11.48, and the average of patients adherers was 85.7±14.03. The average of mental health composite score of patients non-adherers was 72.0±11.83, the average of acceptable adhrence was 78.8±11.29, and the average of with strict adherers was 84.3±14.47. A statistically significant difference was found between the averages of physical and mental composite scores between the adjustment levels classified according to adherence to the Mediterranean diet (p <0.001). EDSS score was found to be statistically significantly correlated with physical and mental health composite scores (p <0.01). A moderate negative correlation was found between the EDSS score and the Mediterranean diet score (r=-0.425, p <0.01). There was a weak negative correlation between the physical activity status and the age of diagnosis (r =-0.255, p <0.05). There was a statistically significant negative weak correlation between the composite physical health score, the CRP level and a statistically significant weak positive correlation between the CRP and TSH levels and the EDSS score (p <0.05). There was no correlation between vitamin D levels and quality of life scores and EDSS (p> 0.05). In conclusion, this study provided information about the benefit that adherence to the Mediterranean diet can increase quality of life in MS patients.