Association of Macro- and Micro-nutrients Intake with the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Control Study

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, and it has been suggested that nutrition might play a role in the etiology of MS. This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between MS risk and intake of some macro- and micro-nutrients in Tehran (Iran). In this hospital based, case-control study, a total of 60 newly diagnosed patients with MS and 140 controls underwent face-to-face interviews. Information regarding the usual dietary intake of each individual in the past year was collected by using a valid and reliable 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Inverse significant associations were observed (P< 0.05) between the intake of protein (OR=0.19; 95% CI: 0.04-0.76) and micro-nutrients such as vitamin B1 (OR=0.10; 95% CI: 0.02-0.53), vitamin B2 (OR=0.15; 95% CI: 0.04-0.50), cobalamin (OR=0.13; 95% CI: 0.04-0.38), vitamin C (OR=0.20; 95% CI: 0.07-0.58), vitamin A (OR=0.23; 95% CI: 0.09-0.59), vitamin D (OR=0.28; 95% CI: 0.11-0.72), vitamin E (OR=0.15; 95% CI: 0.05-0.41), β-carotene (OR=0.38; 95% CI: 0.15-0.97), zinc (OR=0.05; 95% CI: 0.01-0.27), magnesium (OR=0.12; 95% CI: 0.03-0.47) and calcium (OR=0.23; 95% CI: 0.08-0.67) and the risk of MS. The results suggest that intake of some macro- and micro-nutrients might be associated with reduced risk of MS. It seems promising that intake of nutrients at least in the dietary reference levels may decrease the risk of MS.