2023-06-22 12:00:00
Multiple sclerosis (ALS) is an autoimmune disease that progressively affects the central nervous system and eventually leads to irreversible disability. It is the second national cause of acquired disability in young adults following trauma. Researchers at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health have made an interesting discovery regarding this serious disease: omega-3s help slow the progression of the disease.
ALS: alpha-linolenic acid reduces the risk of death
In this research presented in the journal Neurology, scientists followed 449 people living with multiple sclerosis for 18 months. Their symptom severity and disease progression were assessed and then scored from zero to 40, with higher scores indicating less severe disease symptoms. The level of omega-3 fatty acids in the participants’ blood was also measured.
The results show that among the omega-3s slow down the progress of the pathology. Of these, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a nutrient found in foods such as flaxseeds, walnuts, and chia or soybean oils, is most strongly linked to slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis and the risk of death. Of the 126 participants who died within 18 months of starting the study, 33% belonged to the group with the lowest ALA levels and only 19% came from the group with the highest ALA levels.
The team thus estimated that patients with high levels of ALA had a 50% lower risk of death compared to those with low levels. “These results, along with our previous research, suggest that this fatty acid may have neuroprotective effects that might benefit people with ALS.”says lead author Kjetil Bjornevik in a communiqué du Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.
Omega-3: an intriguing link between diet and multiple sclerosis
ALA is not the only fatty acid that has been linked to reductions in the risk of death for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. Eicosapentaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fatty fish and fish oil, and linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, showed also protective effects.
“The link our study found between diet and ALS is intriguing”, says lead author Alberto Ascherio. His team would like to continue their work to confirm that alpha-linolenic acid does indeed have a protective effect once morest multiple sclerosis and might integrate the proposed therapeutic strategies.
“We are now contacting clinical researchers to promote a randomized trial to determine if ALA is beneficial in people with ALS. Obtaining funding will be difficult, as ALA is not a patentable drug, but we hope to achieve this.”recognizes the scientist.
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