Introduction – Direct-MS is very pleased to be funding a rigorous clinical trial which will test the effectiveness of the Direct-MS recommended nutritional strategies, often referred to as the Best Bet Diet for MS (BBD), for affecting MS disease activity. Such research is of critical importance for determining if the recommended nutritional strategies are of value for MS and thus worth serious consideration as a therapeutic option. Recruitment for the trial began in July, 2006 and it is hoped that results will be available early in 2008.

Leaders – The chief investigator of the clinical research is Dr Jonathan O’Riordan, Consultant Neurologist and Director of Tayside MS Regional Service and Research Unit, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Scotland. The principle investigator and study doctor is Dr. Pushkar S. Shah, Registrar and Research Fellow, MS Research Unit, Dept. of Neurology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. The MS Research Coordinator is Mrs. Sally Wilson also of Ninewells Hospital.

Ethics – The study has been approved by the Ethics Board of Ninewells Hospital. It will be conducted in accordance the European Clinical Trials Directive and associated guidelines, the International Conference on Harmonization Guidelines on Good Clinical Practice and the Principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, as well as all other national and local laws and regulations.

Goal – The main goal of the study is to compare the effectiveness of the Best Bet Diet for MS (BBD) with that of the dietary advice provided by the MS Society of Britain for decreasing MS disease activity over one year of use.

Methods – The study will involve 30 participants, all of whom have relapsing-remitting MS and EDSS disability between 0 and 3.5. Fifteen participants will be randomly assigned to the BBD and the other 15 to the dietary advice of the MS Society.

The study will last one year and each participant will have an MRI scan at baseline, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and at 1 year. The MRI scans will measure T1 and T2 lesions as well as brain volume.

The participants will also have a complete physical and neurological examination at baseline, 6 months and 1 year. At these times disability will be measured using the EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale) and MSFC (MS Functional Composite) scales.

At baseline and every 4 weeks the participants will complete questionnaires including a Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), MS Quality of Life Inventory (MSQLI) and Patient Global Assessment (PGA).

Monitoring Dietary Compliance – The participants will complete food diaries every 3 months and, in-between the visits to the clinic, subjects will be given reminders via phone and letters. They will also have daily access to the research unit for dietary advice.

Results – The effects on MS disease activity after one year will be assessed through the measured changes in disability scores, brain volume and lesion load. An assessment of symptom control and quality of life will be obtained from the completed questionnaires. The various results from those participants on the BBD will be statistically compared with the results from those following the dietary advice of the MS Society to determine if the BBD has a measurable positive effect on MS disease activity.

Discussion – This clinical trial is basically a “Phase I/II” trial and will determine if the BBD has a measurable effect on MS disease activity and if such dietary research can be accomplished in a scientifically acceptable manner. If positive results are obtained, a larger trial, involving up to 100 participants in each arm, will be necessary to confirm the positive effect of the BBD and to allow a better assessment of the strength of that effect.

http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm?fuse...ow&pageid=1076

FYI, a brief description of the BBD:
Link to Ashton Embry's essay on BBD.

Some of this sounds kinda Swank-y, and some of it (avoid all cereal grains and legumes?) sounds kinda goofy.

Anyone?

Doug

I think all these so called cure diets have been tested in some respects and according to the NMSS, there is no proof that any special diet is effective for the benefit of MS.

A balanced diet is recommended with a one a day vitamin suppliment.

I think it's all hype. JMO.

This was the diet/regime that Nick (can't remember his handle from OBT) was promoting at one time, isn't it?

Cherie

I don't know how anyone could follow this diet.
I would feel so deprived.
However; the leaky gut thing is very interesting and I have read about this before as it may relate to MS.

Yep - it does sound goofy.

Leaky gut? Doesn't sound very scientific to me, but then, I'm not a scientist.

That diet sound so restrictive it's almost dangerous. It doesn't seem very well-balanced.

I think if you follow the AHA recommendation for diet, you will be as healthy as can be expected. I feel better when I eat healthy, but it has never affected the MS that I know of. I might be sicker if I ate junk food regularly, I'm sure.

These kinds of diets are nearly impossible to follow, but sometimes sell a lot of books.

I remember when this diet was being touted by someone on the old BT years ago. I had more disposable income at the time, and paid for the allergy food tests recommended, sent in my few hundred dollars and blood to the mentioned lab [I can't remember where it was, but in the states] and waited. A few weeks later I received a report that stated all the food I was shown to be sensitive to in their testing of my blood and, amazingly, the list was all the food I had eaten in the two days previous to that blood draw!

I was seeing a good TCM practitioner at the time, and discussed this with him. He remarked that he wasn't surprised....that I incompletely digested all food! He provided a supplement [less than $20bat the time] to enhance my digestion. I'm not going to be a big help here, as I tossed all those leftover herbs a few years ago.

My suggestion? Add some supplemental digestive aids to your diet if you think you have a "slow" digstive system. And try to eat yogurt at least once a day! A lot cheaper and healthier alternative to eliminating all dairy. By the way, I was allergic to cow's milk as an infant, and never developed a taste for milk. But Dove ice cream bars are another story!