- Scientists believe multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder in which immune cells attack the nerve cells and cause inflammation, leading to a range of symptoms, including muscle weakness, fatigue, and vision problems.
- Now, a study in mice and human cells has found that a protein in wheat and other grains may lead to inflammation that worsens MS symptoms.
- The researchers suggest that a wheat-free diet may reduce the severity of MS and other inflammatory disorders.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition that affects an estimated
Although the exact cause of MS is unknown, scientists believe it is an
In MS, these immune cells break down myelin — the protective outer covering of nerve cells — and nerve cell bodies in the
- muscle weakness, and changes in gait and mobility
- numbness, tingling and pain
- bladder and bowel problems
- fatigue
- vision problems
- emotional changes, such as depression.
Inflammation caused by the activity of immune cells can worsen MS symptoms, so taking measures to reduce inflammation may help alleviate them. That is what findings from a new study led by scientists at Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Germany, suggest.
The study, published in Gut, found that, in mice, amylase trypsin inhibitors (ΑΤΙ), proteins found in wheat, caused inflammation in the gut, which led to inflammation in the CNS, worsening clinical symptoms of MS.
“The researchers show a diet rich in ATI can also increase CNS inflammation in mice with an MS-like condition. We don’t yet know whether the same is true in people living with MS.”
— Dr. Clare Walton,…
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