Ann Neurol

Is diet associated with the progression of ALS?

December 11, 2023

In this study, presented at the 34th International Symposium on ALS/MND (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neurone disease), researchers examined the possible relationship between diet and ALS progression and survival among a group of ALS patients in the U.S. Their findings suggest that higher dietary glycemic index and load are associated with slower disease progression in ALS.

• Participants with a confirmed diagnosis of sporadic ALS enrolled in the Multicenter Cohort Study of Oxidative Stress were included (n = 304). Researchers evaluated baseline macronutrient by food frequency questionnaire in relation to change in revised ALS functional rating scale total-score, and tracheostomy-free survival using linear regression and Cox proportional hazard models.
• Baseline higher glycemic index and load were associated with less decline of revised ALS functional rating scale total score at 3-month follow-up (beta = -0.13, 95% CI -0.2, -0.01, p = 0.03) and (beta = -0.01, 95% CI -0.03, -0.0007, p = 0.04), respectively. Glycemic index second-quartile, third-quartile, and fourth-quartile groups were associated with less decline at 3 months by 1.9 (95% CI -3.3, -0.5, p = 0.008), 2.0 (95% CI -3.3, -0.6, p = 0.006), and 1.6 (95% CI -3.0, -0.2, p = 0.03) points compared with the first-quartile group; the glycemic load fourth-quartile group had 1.4 points less decline compared with the first-quartile group (95% CI -2.8, 0.1, p = 0.07). 
• Higher glycemic index was associated with a trend toward longer tracheostomy-free survival (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.93, 1.00, p = 0.07).

Source:

Lee I. (2023, November 17). Ann Neurol. Higher Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Diet Is Associated with Slower Disease Progression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37975189/