Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (sklerosis multiplex) is a degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). The name "multiple sclerosis" reflects the nature of this disease. The word "sclerosis" comes from the Greek word "skleros," which means "hard." It is termed "multiple" because it creates variously scattered inflammatory lesions in the CNS called plaques or lesions (they vary in size from several millimeters to centimeters and are distributed in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord).

Its onset and progression are unfortunately unpredictable, with the disease attacking young adults aged 20-30 years. The disease is triggered by many nonspecific factors, most commonly cited are:

• infections,
• anesthesia,
• surgical procedures,
• stress,
• exhaustion of the organism.

It manifests through the formation of multiple inflammatory lesions that destroy the protective sheath of some nerve fibers (myelin sheath). Multiple sclerosis is characterized by its impact on areas responsible for movement and coordination. In some individuals, it can lead to damage of the optic nerve or brain and spinal nerves, resulting in visual problems, difficulty in walking, poor articulation and pronunciation, confused thinking to overall body paralysis.

It is an autoimmune disease where the immune system considers myelin (= lipoprotein involved in forming the myelin sheath) as foreign and destroys it. Once the myelin sheath is destroyed, the transmission of nerve impulses in the CNS is slowed down or completely interrupted.
Other frequently discussed causes include toxic metal poisoning, spinal tumors, genetic predispositions, and certain viruses.

Classical treatment is still ineffective, primarily focusing on alleviating some symptoms by administering corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.

The Impact of Diet on Multiple Sclerosis

Diet modification primarily has a preventive character. It has yet to be proven that any dietary modification can reverse the progression of this disease. The goal of preventive dietary adjustments is:

1. To increase the antioxidant capacity of the organism, thus protecting nerve cells from damage by free radicals.

2. To support the production of fatty acids involved in nerve construction.

3. To mitigate inflammatory processes.

The concept is based on the principles of anti-inflammatory diet, which includes:

A) Reducing the portion of animal proteins, replacing them with plant-based proteins,

B) Minimizing the intake of any sweets and unnecessary additives, which promote inflammation development,

C) Adjusting ratios across different groups of fatty acids (saturated:unsaturated, o-3:o-6),

D) Ensuring adequate amounts of selected vitamins (with emphasis on the impact of vitamins C, E, and B complex),

E) Increasing the intake of lecithin (which influences the regeneration of myelin nerve sheaths) - based on nuts and seeds, or oils pressed from them. Dietary supplements are also beneficial, especially those with a guaranteed proportion of phospholipid complexes (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine).