Researchers are testing whether two specific eating plans might help people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (a type of MS) feel better and have fewer symptoms. One diet focuses on healthy fats from olive oil combined with very low carbs, while the other is based on eating like our ancestors did. About 162 people will follow these diets or normal eating guidelines for two years while researchers track how they feel, their energy levels, mood, and how well their brain and body work. This study is important because doctors don’t yet know if changing what you eat can actually help manage MS symptoms.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether two special eating plans can improve how people with MS feel and function compared to eating normally
  • Who participated: 162 people with relapsing-remitting MS (the most common type where symptoms come and go) will be divided into three groups: one eating a ketogenic diet with olive oil, one eating a Paleolithic-style diet, and one eating according to standard dietary guidelines
  • Key finding: This is a study plan, not yet completed research. Researchers will measure quality of life, tiredness, mood, brain function, and disease activity over 24 months to see if diet makes a real difference
  • What it means for you: If you have MS, this research may eventually show whether changing your diet could help manage your symptoms. However, don’t change your diet without talking to your doctor first, as this study is still ongoing and results aren’t available yet

The Research Details

This is a carefully planned experiment called a randomized controlled trial, which is considered the gold standard for testing whether something actually works. Researchers will randomly assign 162 people with MS into three groups: two groups will follow special diets with help from nutrition experts, and one group will follow normal eating guidelines. The study will last two years, with people visiting the clinic in person at the start, after 3 months, and after 24 months. Between visits, participants will fill out online surveys every three months to report how they’re doing. The researchers will measure many things including how people feel overall, their energy levels, mood, how well their brain works, and whether their MS is getting worse or better.

MS is a disease where the body’s immune system attacks the nervous system, causing problems with movement, thinking, and energy. Currently, doctors don’t have strong evidence that diet can help manage MS symptoms. This study is important because it’s designed carefully to actually prove whether diet helps, rather than just asking people if they think it helps. By comparing two different diets to normal eating, researchers can see which approach (if any) really makes a difference.

This study has several strengths: it’s a randomized controlled trial (the best type of study design), it will follow people for two years (long enough to see real changes), it will measure many different outcomes (not just one thing), and nutrition experts will help guide the diet groups. However, this is just the study plan—the actual results aren’t available yet. The study is registered with the government’s clinical trials database, which means it’s being done according to strict scientific standards.

What the Results Show

This is a study protocol (a detailed plan) rather than a completed study, so results are not yet available. The researchers have not yet collected or analyzed data. When the study is complete in 2025 or later, they will measure how much each diet improves quality of life compared to normal eating. They will also look at whether the benefits last over time or fade away. The study is designed to detect real, meaningful improvements in how people feel and function, not just tiny changes that don’t matter in real life.

Beyond quality of life, the researchers will also measure: how tired people feel (fatigue is a major MS symptom), mood and depression, how well the brain works (memory and thinking), how well the body moves and functions, eye problems, and signs of disease activity (whether MS is getting worse). They will also collect blood and saliva samples to study how the diets change the bacteria in the gut and the chemicals in the blood, which might explain how diet affects MS.

Some small studies and patient reports suggest that certain diets might help MS symptoms, but there hasn’t been a large, well-designed study to prove this. This research will be one of the first rigorous tests of whether diet really helps. The two diets being tested (ketogenic and Paleolithic) were chosen because some research suggests they might reduce inflammation in the body, and inflammation is involved in MS.

This study hasn’t been completed yet, so we don’t know the results. When it is completed, some limitations may include: people might not stick to the diets perfectly, people who volunteer for diet studies might be different from the general MS population, and the study only includes people with relapsing-remitting MS (not other types). Also, it’s hard to keep people ‘blind’ to what diet they’re eating, so knowing they’re in a special diet group might affect how they feel.

The Bottom Line

Wait for the results of this study before making major diet changes for MS. If you have MS and are interested in diet, talk to your neurologist and a registered dietitian before trying any special eating plan. Current MS medications are proven to work—don’t stop taking them based on diet alone. Once this study is complete (likely in 2025 or later), the results may provide guidance on whether these specific diets are worth trying alongside your regular MS treatment.

This research is most relevant to people with relapsing-remitting MS (the most common type). It may eventually be relevant to people with other MS types, but this study doesn’t include them. Family members and caregivers should also pay attention, as they can help support diet changes if they’re recommended. Healthcare providers treating MS should watch for these results to see if they should recommend diet changes to their patients.

This study won’t have final results for at least 1-2 years. Even after results are published, it will take time for doctors to review the findings and decide whether to recommend these diets. Real changes in how you feel from diet changes typically take 2-3 months to notice, which is why this study is measuring results at 6 months and 24 months.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Once results are available, users could track daily energy levels (1-10 scale), weekly fatigue impact on activities, monthly mood check-ins, and quarterly overall quality of life ratings to see if a recommended diet is helping their personal MS symptoms
  • If this study shows positive results, users could use an app to: log meals to ensure they’re following the recommended diet, set reminders for meal planning and preparation, track which foods make them feel better or worse, and share progress with their healthcare team
  • Long-term tracking would involve monthly check-ins on how the diet is affecting energy, mood, and function, with quarterly reviews comparing current symptoms to baseline. Users should also track adherence to the diet (how well they’re sticking to it) since benefits depend on actually following the eating plan

This article describes a research study plan, not completed results. The findings are not yet available. If you have multiple sclerosis, do not change your diet or stop taking MS medications based on this information. Always consult with your neurologist and a registered dietitian before making dietary changes. This research is ongoing and results may take several years to complete and publish. Current MS medications are proven effective—diet should only be considered as a potential addition to, not replacement for, standard medical treatment.