Can Fruits and Vegetables Impact ALS Outcomes?

A new study links high intake of the antioxidants and carotenes found in fruits and vegetables with better outcomes for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Noting the growing interest in the role of nutrition in the pathogenesis and progression of ALS, a team of researchers sought to evaluate the associations between nutrients, individually and in groups, and ALS function and respiratory function at diagnosis.
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To do so, the investigators conducted a cross-sectional baseline analysis of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Multicenter Cohort Study of Oxidative Stress. The authors assessed 302 patients (178 men and 124 women) with ALS symptom duration of 18 months or less, measuring nutrient intake using a modified Block Food Frequency Questionnaire. ALS function was measured using the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), and respiratory function was measured using percentage of predicted forced vital capacity (FVC).

Regression analysis of nutrients found that greater intakes of antioxidants and carotenes were associated with higher ALSFRS-R scores or percentage FVC.

"Our findings indicate that nutritional care of the patient with ALS might include promotion of fruits and vegetables, high-fiber grains, and lean protein sources such as fish and poultry," said Jeri W. Nieves, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University, and lead author of the study.

"In addition, milk products appear to relate to more severe disease and, therefore, may not be advantageous for the dietary management of ALS," Dr Nieves said, adding, "These results will be further studied in the longitudinal evaluation of this cohort of patients with ALS."

—Mark McGraw

Reference:

Nieves JW, Gennings C, Factor-Litvak P, et al; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Multicenter Cohort Study of Oxidative Stress (ALS COSMOS) Study Group. Association between dietary intake and function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [published online October 24, 2016]. JAMA Neurology. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.3401.