Uploaded May 2021 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
Diet can play a role in MS, yet there is no optimal diet recommended for people with MS. Associate Professor Laurence Macia has previously identified that increased intake of dietary protein promotes the growth of gut bacteria which might be beneficial in MS. It has been shown that these bacteria influence the immune system and potentially decrease the development of inflammatory immune cells that play a role in MS.
In this project, Associate Professor Macia and her team are testing whether an increased dietary protein intake helps restore a healthy bacteria in the gut, reduce the number of inflammatory cells and ultimately reduce the severity of MS.
Associate Professor Macia and the team will investigate in laboratory models of MS whether changes in dietary protein intake will 1) beneficially change the gut microbiota composition and 2) balance the immune system towards an anti-inflammatory state, which they believe will have beneficial clinical outcomes.
This project hopefully will lead in the longer term to better dietary recommendations for people with MS and to the development of novel strategies to boost the efficacy of current treatments. While recent studies have highlighted the "power" of nutrition on the immune system and health in general, this dietary intervention could provide an ideal strategy to safely restore immune function and improve health in people with MS, with few, if any, side effects. It is hoped that this work will provide the critical proof-of-concept that simple lifestyle changes could dramatically improve MS.
Diet can play a role in MS, yet there is no optimal diet recommended for people with MS. Associate Professor Laurence Macia has previously identified that increased intake of dietary protein promotes the growth of gut bacteria which might be beneficial in MS. It has been shown that these bacteria influence the immune system and potentially decrease the development of inflammatory immune cells that play a role in MS.
In this project, Associate Professor Macia and her team are testing whether an increased dietary protein intake helps restore a healthy bacteria in the gut, reduce the number of inflammatory cells and ultimately reduce the severity of MS.
Associate Professor Macia and the team will investigate in laboratory models of MS whether changes in dietary protein intake will 1) beneficially change the gut microbiota composition and 2) balance the immune system towards an anti-inflammatory state, which they believe will have beneficial clinical outcomes.
This project hopefully will lead in the longer term to better dietary recommendations for people with MS and to the development of novel strategies to boost the efficacy of current treatments. While recent studies have highlighted the "power" of nutrition on the immune system and health in general, this dietary intervention could provide an ideal strategy to safely restore immune function and improve health in people with MS, with few, if any, side effects. It is hoped that this work will provide the critical proof-of-concept that simple lifestyle changes could dramatically improve MS.
