The recommended healthy eating diet for people with Multiple Sclerosis is low in saturated-fat but includes essential fatty acids (EFA's). Good sources of EFA's are Evening Primrose Oil (for Omega 6 oils), and Fish Oil (for Omega 3).

The Omega 6 fatty acid is Linolenic Acid (LA). Controlled trials have shown that supplementation with 17-23g of LA a day can reduce the rate and severity of relapse in mild cases of relapsing/remitting MS. Results of a small study¹ carried out in Norway suggested that fish oil supplementation given together with vitamins and dietary advice can improve the clinical outcome in patients with newly diagnosed MS.

Dr. Roy Swank has demonstrated a link between saturated fat and the incidence of MS and many people have benefited from following Swank's low-fat dietary recommendations. You can read more about this topic in the Best Bet Diet book.

Ref: ¹Nordvik I, Myhr KM, Nyland H, Bjerve KS, 2000, Effect of dietary advice and n-3 supplementation in newly diagnosed MS patients, Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway Acta Neurol Scand Sep;102(3):143-9.

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