Location
Suwanee, GA
Start Date
7-5-2024 1:00 PM
End Date
7-5-2024 4:00 PM
Description
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the infiltration of peripheral lymphocytes into the central nervous system, resulting in inflammation and demyelination. Microbial dysbiosis has been observed in MS patients and may play a role in the loss of immune tolerance, leading to autoimmunity. Thus, it is believed that the gut microbiota can influence the inflammation seen in MS patients through the gut-brain axis. Diet and nutrition are highly implicated in inflammatory diseases because they can control the abundance of bacterial species and transcription factors and gene expression in host cells, ultimately creating pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory immune responses. This review aims to examine if nutrition can improve microbial dysbiosis and induce remyelination in MS patients. It was found that the Western diet is associated with a pro-inflammatory immune response because of the high intake of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol. Conversely, the Mediterranean diet is associated with an anti-inflammatory immune response because of the high intake of unsaturated fatty acids and fiber. Taurine and creatine are nutritional factors found in the diet that have been shown to be helpful in either stimulating OPCs or oligodendrocytes towards survival or proliferation, both of which would be beneficial in inducing remyelination. These findings are significant because none of the current, widespread treatments for MS address the microbial dysbiosis associated with the disease while also attempting to induce remyelination. Thus, despite there being no cure for MS, nutritional factors have the potential to improve patient outcomes by improving microbial dysbiosis and inducing remyelination.
Embargo Period
7-8-2025
Microbial dysbiosis and nutritional factors that promote remyelination in Multiple Sclerosis
Suwanee, GA
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the infiltration of peripheral lymphocytes into the central nervous system, resulting in inflammation and demyelination. Microbial dysbiosis has been observed in MS patients and may play a role in the loss of immune tolerance, leading to autoimmunity. Thus, it is believed that the gut microbiota can influence the inflammation seen in MS patients through the gut-brain axis. Diet and nutrition are highly implicated in inflammatory diseases because they can control the abundance of bacterial species and transcription factors and gene expression in host cells, ultimately creating pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory immune responses. This review aims to examine if nutrition can improve microbial dysbiosis and induce remyelination in MS patients. It was found that the Western diet is associated with a pro-inflammatory immune response because of the high intake of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol. Conversely, the Mediterranean diet is associated with an anti-inflammatory immune response because of the high intake of unsaturated fatty acids and fiber. Taurine and creatine are nutritional factors found in the diet that have been shown to be helpful in either stimulating OPCs or oligodendrocytes towards survival or proliferation, both of which would be beneficial in inducing remyelination. These findings are significant because none of the current, widespread treatments for MS address the microbial dysbiosis associated with the disease while also attempting to induce remyelination. Thus, despite there being no cure for MS, nutritional factors have the potential to improve patient outcomes by improving microbial dysbiosis and inducing remyelination.