Efficacy of Diet on Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis
NCT ID: NCT05007483
Last Updated: 2025-09-12
Study Results
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Basic Information
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ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
NA
162 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2022-02-10
2026-12-01
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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The overarching goal of this project is to critically evaluate the efficacy of incorporating dietary guidance within multiple sclerosis (MS) care for improving long-term quality of life (QoL) compared to usual care. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of two dietary interventions (time restricted olive oil based (TROO) ketogenic and modified Paleolithic elimination) on MS QoL compared to usual care control (Dietary Guidelines for America), and the secondary objectives and the long-term effects on, motor function, low-contrast vision sensitivity, fatigue, mood, and disease activity assessed by brain imaging.
The proposed study will consist of study participants attending 3 in-person site visits, months 0, 3, and 24, and online surveys every 3 months (months 0-24).
This study will use a randomized single-blind controlled design to test the short-term (6 months) and long-term (an additional 18 months) impact of the intervention diets on symptoms of MS including QoL and related outcomes stated above. We will use a fourteen-day run-in period to identify participants who are most likely to be successful in completing study procedures; this process has been effective in our previous studies. Participants who successfully complete all baseline self-reported outcomes and follow all study procedures during the seven-day run-in period will be scheduled for an on-site baseline visit for randomization to one of three diets (time restricted olive oil based (TROO) ketogenic and modified Paleolithic elimination and Dietary Guidelines for America).
On-site study visits will include blood draws, motor, cognitive, vision function assessments, and MRI. Motor assessments will include a 6-minute walk test, 25-foot walk test, 9-hole pegboard to test hand function, symbol digit exercise to test thinking functions, and critical flicker fusion test, ocular coherence tomography and low contrast vision sensitivity to test vision. The study participant will be escorted to the MRI unit to complete a non-contrast MRI of the brain. At the baseline visit, participants will be randomized. Participants assigned to the intervention diets will be given intervention specific educational materials including shopping lists, example menus and recipes, and the study supplements. Study participants randomized to the dietary guidelines for Americans diet will receive emails and/or text messages (approximately 3-6 weeks) to receive resources with websites for the Dietary Guidelines of America, and recent multiple sclerosis-related research that does not involve diet.
Study team will provide fish oil, essential fatty acids, and phosphatidylcholine to the two intervention groups only. The participant will be scheduled for a Zoom video conference meeting with the assigned registered dietitian to review the assigned study diet.
In addition, subjects will collect saliva specimens for microbiome analysis at each of the 3 site study visits (months 0, 3 and 24).
Dietary History Questionnaire III will be completed at months 0, 3, 12 and 24 and will be used to assess adherence to the assigned dietary pattern.
The online questionnaires sent to participants every 3 months will also be used to track supplement intake, medication use, and details about health \& life events, MS symptoms, fatigue, quality of life, doctor's appointment, and side effects they may be experiencing.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
DOUBLE
Study Groups
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Group 1 (Modified paleolithic elimination diet).
Modified paleolithic elimination diet.
BodyBio Balance Oil
nutraceutical supplement
Kirunal Fish Oil
nutraceutical supplement
BodyBio PC
nutraceutical supplement
Modified Paleolithic Elimination diet
1. Complete elimination of all gluten-, dairy-, and egg-containing foods.
2. Increase fruit and vegetable intake to 6-9 servings/day comprising of 2-3 servings each of the following categories: intensely colored, sulfur-rich, and leafy greens.
3. Consume 6-12 ounces/day protein including organ meats and fatty fish.
4. Consume fermented foods daily.
5. Consume daily servings of algae, seaweed, and nutritional yeast.
Group 2 (TROO)
Time Restricted Olive Oil Based (TROO) Ketogenic Diet
BodyBio Balance Oil
nutraceutical supplement
Kirunal Fish Oil
nutraceutical supplement
BodyBio PC
nutraceutical supplement
Time Restricted Olive Oil Based (TROO) Ketogenic Diet
1. Restriction of dietary carbohydrates to \< 50 grams/day.
2. Use olive oil (cold-pressed extra virgin preferred) to increase fat intake to \>160 grams/day.
3. Consume \<100 grams/day protein.
4. Limit dairy to 2 servings/day of whole fat options (completely exclude reduced fat dairy).
5. Consume at least 3 servings/day non-starchy vegetables.
Group 3 Control
Usual diet with Dietary Guidelines for Americans Diet information
Usual diet with Dietary Guidelines for Americans Diet information
1. Limit sodium to \< 2,300 mg/day.
2. Limit added sugar and saturated fat intake to \<10% of kcal/day, respectively.
3. Consume 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
4. Consume 6-9 ounce equivalents/day of grains, making at least half whole grain options.
5. Consume 3 servings of reduced fat dairy per day.
6. Consume 6 ounces/day protein foods.
Interventions
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BodyBio Balance Oil
nutraceutical supplement
Kirunal Fish Oil
nutraceutical supplement
BodyBio PC
nutraceutical supplement
Modified Paleolithic Elimination diet
1. Complete elimination of all gluten-, dairy-, and egg-containing foods.
2. Increase fruit and vegetable intake to 6-9 servings/day comprising of 2-3 servings each of the following categories: intensely colored, sulfur-rich, and leafy greens.
3. Consume 6-12 ounces/day protein including organ meats and fatty fish.
4. Consume fermented foods daily.
5. Consume daily servings of algae, seaweed, and nutritional yeast.
Time Restricted Olive Oil Based (TROO) Ketogenic Diet
1. Restriction of dietary carbohydrates to \< 50 grams/day.
2. Use olive oil (cold-pressed extra virgin preferred) to increase fat intake to \>160 grams/day.
3. Consume \<100 grams/day protein.
4. Limit dairy to 2 servings/day of whole fat options (completely exclude reduced fat dairy).
5. Consume at least 3 servings/day non-starchy vegetables.
Usual diet with Dietary Guidelines for Americans Diet information
1. Limit sodium to \< 2,300 mg/day.
2. Limit added sugar and saturated fat intake to \<10% of kcal/day, respectively.
3. Consume 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
4. Consume 6-9 ounce equivalents/day of grains, making at least half whole grain options.
5. Consume 3 servings of reduced fat dairy per day.
6. Consume 6 ounces/day protein foods.
Other Intervention Names
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* The ability to prepare, or availability of someone to prepare, home-cooked meals.
* Must own a computer, smartphone, or tablet device that has internet access to complete online surveys and capable of running study related applications.
* Must be willing to follow study procedures outlined and explained to them.
* Be between the ages of 18 to 70 at the time of consent.
* Must be able to walk 25 feet without support.
* Willingness to be randomized and follow any of the study diets.
* Must consent to sharing the clinical notes from their primary care and neurology providers during the study period.
Exclusion Criteria
* Use of insulin, Coumadin, weight loss medications such as orlistat that causes fat malabsorption.
* Worsening of symptoms resulting in the initiation or change of treatment including steroids (solumedrol, prednisone, etc.) or disease-modifying medications in 4 weeks prior to consent.
* Treatment for cancer by radiation or chemotherapy in 12 months prior to consent, other than skin cancer.
* Diagnosis of clinically significant heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, or history of oxalate kidney stones.
* Diagnosis of type II diabetes that does not have approval from treating physicians to adopt any of the 3 study diets.
* Clinical diagnosis of moderate to severe psychiatric disease that makes study adherence more difficult (e.g., schizophrenia, bi-polar disease, severe depression and/or anxiety).
* An active eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, or orthorexia.
* Measurement of BMI \<20.
* Confirmation of pregnancy or planning to become pregnant in the next 2 years.
* History of diagnosed fat intolerance/malabsorption such as cholecystectomy or uncontrolled exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.
* Participation in another research study investigating MS treatments, diet, or exercise.
* Presence of a contraindication to completing a brain MRI or having claustrophobia which interferes with completion of MRI studies without the use of sedation.
18 Years
70 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Terry L. Wahls
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Terry L. Wahls
Principle Investigator
Principal Investigators
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Terry L Wahls, MD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of Iowa
Locations
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Univeristy of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Countries
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References
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Wahls TL, Chenard CA, Snetselaar LG. Review of Two Popular Eating Plans within the Multiple Sclerosis Community: Low Saturated Fat and Modified Paleolithic. Nutrients. 2019 Feb 7;11(2):352. doi: 10.3390/nu11020352.
Wahls T, Scott MO, Alshare Z, Rubenstein L, Darling W, Carr L, Smith K, Chenard CA, LaRocca N, Snetselaar L. Dietary approaches to treat MS-related fatigue: comparing the modified Paleolithic (Wahls Elimination) and low saturated fat (Swank) diets on perceived fatigue in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2018 Jun 4;19(1):309. doi: 10.1186/s13063-018-2680-x.
Chenard CA, Rubenstein LM, Snetselaar LG, Wahls TL. Nutrient Composition Comparison between a Modified Paleolithic Diet for Multiple Sclerosis and the Recommended Healthy U.S.-Style Eating Pattern. Nutrients. 2019 Mar 1;11(3):537. doi: 10.3390/nu11030537.
Titcomb TJ, Bisht B, Moore DD 3rd, Chhonker YS, Murry DJ, Snetselaar LG, Wahls TL. Eating Pattern and Nutritional Risks among People with Multiple Sclerosis Following a Modified Paleolithic Diet. Nutrients. 2020 Jun 20;12(6):1844. doi: 10.3390/nu12061844.
Lee JE, Bisht B, Hall MJ, Rubenstein LM, Louison R, Klein DT, Wahls TL. A Multimodal, Nonpharmacologic Intervention Improves Mood and Cognitive Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis. J Am Coll Nutr. 2017 Mar-Apr;36(3):150-168. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2016.1255160. Epub 2017 Apr 10.
Lee JE, Titcomb TJ, Bisht B, Rubenstein LM, Louison R, Wahls TL. A Modified MCT-Based Ketogenic Diet Increases Plasma beta-Hydroxybutyrate but Has Less Effect on Fatigue and Quality of Life in People with Multiple Sclerosis Compared to a Modified Paleolithic Diet: A Waitlist-Controlled, Randomized Pilot Study. J Am Coll Nutr. 2021 Jan;40(1):13-25. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2020.1734988. Epub 2020 Mar 26.
Chenard CA, Rubenstein LM, Snetselaar LG, Wahls TL. Nutrient Composition Comparison between the Low Saturated Fat Swank Diet for Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy U.S.-Style Eating Pattern. Nutrients. 2019 Mar 13;11(3):616. doi: 10.3390/nu11030616.
Irish AK, Erickson CM, Wahls TL, Snetselaar LG, Darling WG. Randomized control trial evaluation of a modified Paleolithic dietary intervention in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis. 2017 Jan 4;7:1-18. doi: 10.2147/DNND.S116949. eCollection 2017.
Bisht B, Darling WG, Grossmann RE, Shivapour ET, Lutgendorf SK, Snetselaar LG, Hall MJ, Zimmerman MB, Wahls TL. A multimodal intervention for patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: feasibility and effect on fatigue. J Altern Complement Med. 2014 May;20(5):347-55. doi: 10.1089/acm.2013.0188. Epub 2014 Jan 29.
Shemirani F, Klein AM, Groux AR, Kilpatrick R, Brooks L, Ehlinger MA, Darling WG, Magnotta VA, Gill CM, Hoth KF, Mangalam A, Eyck PT, Martinez AS, Hook J, Titcomb TJ, Snetselaar LG, Wahls TL. Efficacy of Diet on Quality of life in Multiple Sclerosis (EDQ-MS): a study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial. Trials. 2025 Oct 27;26(1):437. doi: 10.1186/s13063-025-09157-2.
Other Identifiers
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202104639
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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