Multiple Sclerosis symptoms may worsen with consumption of Soda, Sugar sweetened beverages

If people with multiple sclerosis consume 290 calories of soda or sugar sweetened beverages a day, their symptoms may worsen as warned by the researchers.

Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive and a degenerative disease in which the immune system attacks nerves resulting in many neurological symptoms.

As per the study, it is revealed that people who consumed largest amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages were five time more likely to get severe disability than people who seldom drank sugar-sweetened beverages and consume an average of seven calories of those drinks a day.

People with multiple sclerosis often want to know how diet and specific foods can affect the progression of the disease.

For the study, researchers considered 135 people with disease, who were given questionnaire about their diet.

The team chose to study the DASH diet as it is associated with lower risk of other chronic diseases, like high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, said Meier-Gerdingh.

The diet recommends whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry and fish, and nuts and legumes and limits foods that are high in saturated fat and sugar.

The study was presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 71st Annual Meeting in the US, it showed that overall no link was found between what participants ate and their level of disability. In addition, a total of 30 participants had severe disability.

Additional studies have to be carried out to evaluate whether sugar-sweetened beverages affect the course of the disease.