Diet works - a new peer reviewed study

[tingletingle]

Hey ladies and gents,

As you know I accept the Swank research published in the 1980's is proof that diet plays a significant role in MS progression.

I have been following Prof George Jelinek's program since Sept 2011 and I am excited to share a new 5 year study of this diet that has been peer reviewed by the medical profession and published in the Neurological Sciences journal this month.

The study size of 300 people shows a 20% improvement in their quality of life after 5 years of following the Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis program.

Unlike Swank's research that started in the late 1940's, this study complies with modern medical standards and is about to change the medical professions views on the role of diet in MS. The medical profession has accepted for years that diet plays a significant role in cardio vascular disease, stroke, diabetes and many more diseases. Now, they have a study that also confirms diet affects MS.

I understand that currently doctors, neurologists, MS society and patients do not believe Swanks research. But now with this new study, that is all about to change.

Here is the link for those interested in reading:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/7534m81178534157/


Blessings
Alex

[Lulu54]

You are so sweet, Alex, to post these ideas and listen to us with an open mind.  You are truly an asset here and I appreciate you bringing these articles to our attention.  

best, L

[tingletingle]

Hi dv,
Alcohol is absolutely essential!! lol. As long as you stay within the normal alcohol guidelines of drinking up to two glasses per day with 2 rest days per week then it actually helps us into old age, or so the study of 80k of nurses said.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write your responses. I'm sorry I omitted your name from the thank you above. You too raise many valid concerns about the results.

I don't have any good answers yet to your excellent questions but I am sure going to find out. That means comparing the pharmaceutical research with the other research to see if there is a major deviation eg drop outs, patient disability information, as has been suggested.

I have now met three people who have experienced remarkable recovery from MS using this program and correspond over the internet to heaps more in various stages of recovery. I don't believe I have false hope but you guys ask very good questions and are keeping me honest.

Thanks again and blessings
Alex

[doublevision1]

Any idea whether alcohol consumption is factored into this program and if so, what kind and how much?  Just curious.

[tingletingle]

JJ I do love you. Thank you , your language is exquisite and I found myself laughing my head off. 'crack pot' is a favourite saying in our family.

Man, oh man you raise some very serious questions that this poor grey- haired, cognitively declining MS person just didn't see.

I am so glad I posted this because you and Lulu have found points I cannot answer, but I will find out.

Thank you all for your honestly, support and friendship.

Blessings
Alex

[supermum_ms]

Ok just thought i'd add the childs perspective because its something also to consider.

300 data base = just under 90% did NOT show improvement in their quality of life

165 data base = 80% did NOT improve etc

In this case, there is a "Bottom drawer effect" where most of the results have not been recorded or have been thrown away, reducing credibility. This is shown by the fact that somwhere around half of the participants have dropped out for various reasons. Furthermore,  even with the bottom drawer effect hiding the bad results, there is still only a small amount of people who did get benificial results, as 20% of 165 is 33. In conclusion, i don't think that 33 out of 300 is a good result, if it was mum wouldn't be so annoyed the next time I bring home an 'F' lol

Written and composed by rug rat of JJ

[supermum_ms]

Hey Alex,

Just so you know, I went against all my son's dr's opinions, in regard to diet (colours, flavouring, chemical additives, preservatives, wheat & dairy etc) affecting his cognitive and behavioral control. Medical speak, I was barking up the wrong tree lol 10 years on and research now supports my strong 'crack pot' theories, so all those so called experts can kiss my (not so big) glutus maximus!

Sheeesh even as a pre-schooler the kid knew what negatively affected his brain, eg he kept saying the hair gell made his brain fuzzy and hard to think, out of the mouth of babe's...............so back onto the topic lol

Sorry to say it to you but even with our family history, i'm still a skeptic on this one, doublevision said it all for me. The scientific research just isn't (imho) backing up the swank diet claims, its still stretching research to fit, still theory not fact. Dont get me wrong though, i am a 100% believer that diet does affect us either possitively or negatively so i'm all for anything and anyone thats proactively focused on a beneficial diet or life style.

I strongly feel that diet 'alone' is potencially disasterous, the very nature of the disease will still progress, it uniqually presents, no two people exactly the same etc. etc. No medical expert can accurately predict the progression rate of any pwMS in 1, 5 or 20 years, its a guesstimation based on research but still gray. Think of the MSers who have been classed with a mild form or benign MS, when a relapse then puts them in a wheelchair forever more (it happens) its a bit late, their dr's theory was wrong, at their detriment.

Now give me a double blind longitudinal study, the participants still (from my perspective) need more than to be just the same dx and age range, i'm thinking clones. Same no lesions, same places, same medical/clinical history, same age, same gender, same life etc and absolutely no drugs of any kind. Then stick each in the same environment, complete with same chef, personal trainer, meditation coach etc Yeah give me all that stuff and then if the research provided the hard data that progression is slowed, i'd probably start taking Swank claims more seriously. Its never going to happen as i'd prefer, so i'm still left sitting on the skeptic shelf on the slows down progression bit.

Is it better for you, you bet!

Cheers...........JJ        

[sllowe]

Thank you, Alex!

In these years/days of processed, and over processing of our foods, artificial ripening in shipping trucks, instead of home-grown and bred - I have no-doubt eating a healthy diet exclusive of those add-ons can help many ailments. Just so long as one realizes that in regard to MS, environment and viral are among those things that may make us succeptible to disease in the 1st place.  

In the end, balanced diet can't hurt. I know this is near and dear to your heart, and I'm so excited that you are excited for more good news in this area. You are willing to shout from the roof-tops to all in the name of fighting this beast, and it's motivating and inspirational :)
Thank you, Alex
-shell

[tingletingle]

Hi Lu and CJ,

Thanks for your thoughts. It is very interesting times indeed.

I was hoping that this research would be the 'smoking gun' to prove diet works but I understand that it will probably take another 20 years to gather the body of evidence to prove either way.

Thanks Lulu for some very good analysis of the study. I will have to research this to find the answers for myself.

Anyway, I'm out there for all to see my progress. I may indeed end up with egg on my face and simply decline like everyone else with MS, but then I may just get better too.

Thanks everyone for your good grace to hear an alternative opinion. I truly don't mean to offend anybody but merely inform with what I consider reliable medical evidence.

Blessings to all
Alex

[doublevision1]

I think it's great that following this program is doing you good.  I think this program is sound in terms of improving overall health.  I looked at the components and observed that I follow most of them myself, and have since long before I was dx'ed with MS.  

What I'm not seeing in this literature is evidence that following the program will decelerate MS progression.  It doesn't appear to be making such a claim.  The study concludes with: "Attendance at a retreat promoting lifestyle modification for the integrated management of MS appears to have positive effects on short and medium-term HRQOL. Non-drug therapies should be considered as part of any comprehensive treatment plan for people with MS."  I agree completely with this conclusion.

As Lulul points out, there was a significantly high drop out rate in this study; nearly half dropped out, so when you say "The study size of 300 people shows a 20% improvement in their quality of life after 5 years of following the Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis program", in fact it is 165 people who were measured at 5 years, not 300.

Some questions that came to my mind as I read the abstract and the program info on their website:

Why not measure MRI findings at baseline and end of study; or did they do so and I'm missing something?  If so, what were the results of this comparison?

Why did so many subjects drop out of the study?  Did they experience no benefit?  Did their MS worsen while they were on it?  

Was placebo effect considered in analysis of the findings?  

Why no control group?  Or again, was there one and am I overlooking this?
eg: What would these outcomes look like when compared against:
- Healthy subjects who followed the same plan?  
- Subjects with other chronic conditions who followed the same plan?
- Subjects with MS who did not follow this plan?

Were study subjects on DMDs for the duration of the program?  

Were study subjects on any pharmaceuticals to alleviate MS symptoms?

Could the positive outcomes at 5 years for the 165 subjects be accounted for due to increased cardiovascular health, improved overall conditioning and muscle strength, weight loss, etc. as opposed to a halting of MS disease course?  To me this seems a likely explanation for at least some of the improvements that occurred.

So again, to be really clear, I totally agree it makes sense people are going to feel better on this program.  Cutting out saturated fat, processed foods, avoiding additives, consuming large amounts of antioxidant rich vegetables, etc. is an excellent diet to follow; being at a healthy weight, getting aerobic and strength building exercise, meditation, etc are all beneficial things that will make anyone feel better.  These are especially important when faced with any chronic disease, not just MS, to compensate for how cr@ppy and fatigued these conditions can make one feel.  

So I don't at all question the conclusion that HRQOL improved for those subjects that remained on the program.  What I don't see is evidence that the program halts progression, so am glad that the study authors don't appear to make any misleading claims in this regard.

[Lulu54]

Hi Alex,
Your excitement is understandable.  As you and I have kicked around a number of times, a change of diet, exercise and other health habits can only have a positive effect on the life of anyone with MS, other chronic diseases and even those people who are otherwise healthy.

I read the study and don't see any thoughts in this study that the diet alone is sufficient to handle our MS.  In fact, in the summary the authors explicitly state that  "Non-drug therapies should be considered as part
of any comprehensive treatment plan for people with MS" rather than suggesting by itself is enough.  The key word here is PART and they don't define what else should be the others PARTS of this plan.  

there was a significant attrition rate to the number of participants who completed the study through both the one year and the five year measurements, meaning that a large number of PwMS dropped out for unknown reasons, perhaps even including that the program did not work for them.  The numbers only reflect the HRQoL for those people who stuck with the paln

I wish they had also looked at disease progression in a study with this diet - QOL can be influenced by so many things, including the simple act of taking charge by watching the diet and exercise.  The disease may still be progressing, but we can feel positive about the things we are doing to help ourselves.

Keep exercising and dieting, Alex.  You've promised to let us know along the way how you are doing.  

hugs,
L

[cjldb]

Sooooo happy to see this!!! As Alex knows, I have been following the OMS guidelines for 4 months now. I'm a little slack on the meditation part because I never seem to find the time but I find the diet easier than I thought it would be. I do enjoy the food and do not miss meat, dairy or bad oils. I have found many vegan recipes that I can use and/or modify to fit this program. I'm a firm believer in the work of Swank (however flawed some may think it is) and the work of Professor Jelinek. I believe diet can solve MOST of our societies problems with chronic illness. Not all, but most. Another interesting read for those doubting the effects of diet is "The China Study" It proves, almost without doubt (in my mind anyway), that diet is the key to preventing and reversing many chronic diseases.

For those interested, I strongly suggest you look into this and read the research. I am not a proponent of stopping DMDs, but I use this in conjunction with the drugs in hopes of seeing the best possible result. The only thing you have to lose by trying is a few extra pounds...it's a healthy diet regardless of whether you have MS or not :)

[Sidesteps]

Thank you Alex, I do believe in treating in the whole body, mind and soul.

[tingletingle]

Hey,

I think if you read the study it does specifically mentions the type of diet that was followed.

In terms of disability, the study uses a medically accepted tool in which the patients level of disability is approx 11% better after 1 year and 20% better after 5 years.

I guess we have to agree to disagree about the objective evidence because it conforms to current research standards, otherwise would not have been allowed to be published.

Blessings
Alex

[tingletingle]

Yes, very happy for you guys to consider the OMS program. It is an improvement to the Swank diet because it uses the latest research that wasn't available to Swank.

Here is a link to the specifics:
http://www.overcomingmultiplesclerosis.org/Recovery-Program/Program-Overview/

I have only been on the diet for 5 months and am look forward to the measurable improvement that will come into effect in 1-5 years.

I am very much enjoying the program which includes a diet low in saturated fat but high in good fat from Omega3, exercise, and meditation.

Happy reading.

Blessings
Alex

[doublevision1]

I am also be interested in seeing the specifics of this program.  The abstract talks about "non-drug therapies" and "lifestyle modification" but not specifically about diet, so I'm curious as to the dietary aspect of these therapies.  

I don't see anything in the abstract that leads me to conclude that this study confirms that diet plays a significant role in MS progression.  It doesn't even appear to be making such a claim.  

A rise in HRQOL score following participation in this program, whatever its components, is certainly positive, but doesn't seem to provide objective evidence that MS progression is in any way impacted because of this program.  There doesn't appear to be a connection being made or even claimed to improvement in relapse rates, MRI findings, EDSS, etc.  

I agree that lifestyle changes including healthier diet, more exercise, stress relief, meditation etc  are of course likely to result in an improved quality of life in anyone, however are not evidence that MS progression is impacted in any way by making such changes.  It could be that these lifestyle changes help to improve one's psychological health or 'attitude', which could lead to enhanced QOL.  Not a bad outcome at all, just not evidence of halting MS progression.

[jenphilly]

I have not tried the full Swank diet program, but I can personally testify to how diet can impact the symptoms of MS.

I do not by any test show an intolerance or allergy to gluten...  doctor has run all sorts of tests, everything shows normal!   But everytime I eat gluten, all my numbness and tingling is worse the next day, muscle spasms in my legs are miserable...  I never had gluten issues before MS....

Again, can't testify to Swanks regimen, but I certainly can say that if symptom management is an issue and you want to reduce the inflammation that certain neurotoxins can inflict on the central nervous system, I would definitely consider trying Swank!  

After all, what is there to lose??!    Can't hurt to try!

jen

[Sidesteps]

Can you tell me more about this program Alex? I googled it but what has been your experience?

I am trying to make some pretty significant lifestyle changes myself including diet, supplements, meditation, yoga and some alternative therapies (accupuncture/massage therapy) into my life as much as possible. I signed myself up for beginning yoga sessions (it's an actual class) to help aid in proper form.  

I heard it's primarily a clean diet so I'm curious. Tell me more please.

Thank you,
~Barb