Abstract
Objective To assess the safety and tolerability of a modified Atkins diet (KDMAD), a type of ketogenic diet (KD), in subjects with relapsing MS while exploring potential benefits of KDs in MS.
Methods Twenty subjects with relapsing MS enrolled into a 6-month, single-arm, open-label study of the KDMAD. Adherence to KDMAD was objectively monitored by daily urine ketone testing. Fatigue and depression scores and fasting adipokines were obtained at baseline and on diet. Brain MRI was obtained at baseline and 6 months. Intention to treat was used for primary data analysis, and a per-protocol approach was used for secondary analysis.
Results No subject experienced worsening disease on diet. Nineteen subjects (95%) adhered to KDMAD for 3 months and 15 (75%) adhered for 6 months. Anthropometric improvements were noted on KDMAD, with reductions in body mass index and total fat mass (p < 0.0001). Fatigue (p = 0.002) and depression scores (p = 0.003) were improved. Serologic leptin was significantly lower at 3 months (p < 0.0001) on diet.
Conclusions KDMAD is safe, feasible to study, and well tolerated in subjects with relapsing MS. KDMAD improves fatigue and depression while also promoting weight loss and reducing serologic proinflammatory adipokines.
Classification of evidence The study is rated Class IV because of the absence of a non-KD control group.
Glossary
- BDI=
- Beck Depression Inventory;
- BHB=
- beta-hydroxybutyrate;
- BMI=
- body mass index;
- EAE=
- experimental autoimmune encephalitis;
- EDSS=
- Expanded Disability Status Scale;
- KD=
- ketogenic diet;
- MIFS=
- Modified Fatigue Impact Scale;
- PASAT=
- Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test;
- RRMS=
- relapsing-remitting MS;
- SDMT=
- Symbol Digit Modalities Test
Footnotes
Funding information and disclosures are provided at the end of the article. Full disclosure form information provided by the authors is available with the full text of this article at Neurology.org/NN.
The Article Processing Charge was funded by the ziMS Foundation.
Class of Evidence: NPub.org/coe
- Received December 9, 2018.
- Accepted in final form March 5, 2019.
- Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Neurology.
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