Multiple Sclerosis risk reduced by a third in those getting a lot of ALA (fatty acid)

Created April 2018

Polyunsaturated fatty acids and the risk of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 23(14), 1830-1838, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458517691150

Kjetil Bjørnevik - University of Bergen

Tanuja Chitnis - Brigham and Women's Hospital

Alberto Ascherio - Harvard University

* Less than 6% of ALA is metabolized to EPA * The upper level EPA food intake of the 150,000 women was 8% of their upper ALA intake * So, the ALA benefit might actually have been due to the resulting EPA in the body * EPA intake did not help AFTER being adjusted for Vitamin D levels * Thus: EPA weight was adjusted down for those taking a lot of vitamin D * Note - this study is based on food questionaries given every 4 years * The study is also based on a total of only 30 MS cases in 300,000 study years ( 1 per 10,000 case years) --- 1. 20 Amazing Health Benefits of Alpha Linolenic Acid which makes EPA and DHA (Omega-3) Dec 2017 includes the following Health Benefits of Alpha Linolenic Acid 1) ALA Prevents Obesity 2) ALA Improves The Skin 3) ALA May Reduce Cancer Risk     ALA and Prostate Cancer Risk 4) ALA Protects Against Diabetes 5) ALA Protects Against Stroke 6) ALA Improves Heart Health 7) ALA Reduces High Blood Pressure 8) ALA Reduces Inflammation 9) ALA May Improve Gut Health 10) ALA May Improve Kidney Function     ALA for Treatment of Lupus-Induced Kidney Problems 11) ALA May Prevent Allergic Reactions 12) ALA Reduces Risk of Respiratory Infections 13) ALA May Help Treat Stomach Ulcers 14) ALA Improves Eye Health 15) ALA Reduces Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms 16) ALA Improves Constipation and Diarrhea 17) ALA May Reduce Depression Risk 18) ALA May Improve Rheumatoid Arthritis 19) ALA May Increase Lifespan 20) ALA and ADHD --- 1. See also VitaminDWiki * 10 Diseases associated with Multiple Sclerosis are also associated with low Omega-3 and vitamin D – Feb 2016 * Multiple Sclerosis risk reduced 46 percent by Omega-3 derived from fish (1 gram) – Sept 2015 * Unsaturated Fatty acids important for both MS and Vitamin D – Oct 2012 Vitamin D and Omega-3 category starts with {include}

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BACKGROUND: Results from previous studies on polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake and multiple sclerosis (MS) risk are conflicting.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively investigate the association between dietary intake of PUFA and MS risk.

METHODS: We followed 80,920 women from Nurses' Health Study (1984-2004) and 94,511 women from Nurses' Health Study II (1991-2009) who reported on diet using a validated food frequency questionnaire every 4 years and identified 479 incident MS cases during follow-up. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), for the effect of PUFA intake on MS risk adjusting for age, latitude of residence at age 15, ancestry, cigarette smoking, supplemental vitamin D intake , body mass index, and total energy intake.

RESULTS: Higher intake of total PUFA at baseline was associated with a lower risk of MS (HR top vs bottom quintile: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.49-0.90, p trend = 0.01).

Among the specific types of PUFA, only α-linolenic acid (ALA) was inversely associated with MS risk (HR top vs bottom quintile: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.45-0.83, p trend = 0.001). The long-chain fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were not associated with MS risk.

CONCLUSION: Low dietary PUFA intake may be another modifiable risk factor for MS.

Tags: Multiple Sclerosis Omega-3