Scientists discovered that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have different types and amounts of fungi in their gut compared to healthy people. This study looked at fungal communities in MS patients from Spain and found that certain fungi were more common in people with MS, especially one called Malassezia, which was linked to greater disability. The research also showed that genes and diet affect which fungi live in the gut, and these fungi might influence how severe MS becomes. These findings suggest that studying gut fungi could help doctors better understand MS and possibly develop new treatments.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether the types of fungi living in the gut of people with multiple sclerosis are different from those in healthy people, and whether these fungi connect to disease severity and disability
  • Who participated: People with multiple sclerosis from the Basque Country in Spain and a comparison group of healthy controls (exact numbers not specified in the abstract)
  • Key finding: MS patients had more fungal diversity and higher amounts of fungi in their gut than healthy people. A fungus called Malassezia was particularly common in MS patients and was strongly linked to increased disability and disease severity.
  • What it means for you: This research suggests that gut fungi may be part of why MS develops and gets worse, but it’s still early research. It doesn’t mean you should change your diet or take antifungal medications without talking to your doctor. More studies are needed before doctors can use this information to treat MS.

The Research Details

Researchers collected samples from people with multiple sclerosis and compared them to healthy control subjects. They used special laboratory techniques to identify and count all the different types of fungi living in each person’s gut. They also looked at blood markers (special proteins that show immune activity) and examined how people’s diets related to the fungi they had. The scientists also checked whether people carried a specific genetic marker (HLA-DRB1*1501) that’s known to increase MS risk, and whether this gene affected which fungi were present.

This type of study is called a cross-sectional study, meaning researchers took a snapshot in time rather than following people over months or years. They looked at many different factors at once to see which ones connected to each other.

Most research on gut microbes and MS has focused on bacteria, but fungi are also important members of the gut community. By studying fungi specifically, scientists can get a more complete picture of how the gut environment might trigger or worsen MS. Understanding these connections could eventually lead to new ways to treat MS by changing the fungal communities in the gut.

This study was published in Frontiers in Immunology, a respected scientific journal. The researchers used modern laboratory methods to identify fungi accurately. However, the study didn’t specify the exact number of participants, which makes it harder to judge how reliable the findings are. The study was done in one region of Spain, so results might be different in other populations. This is early-stage research that needs to be confirmed by other scientists before it changes medical practice.

What the Results Show

The main discovery was that people with MS had more types of fungi and higher amounts of fungi overall compared to healthy people. Three specific fungal groups were more common in MS patients: Saccharomyces, Torulaspora, and Malassezia.

Malassezia stood out as particularly important because it was strongly connected to disability in MS patients. People with more Malassezia tended to have worse symptoms and greater disability. This is interesting because Malassezia has been found in other brain diseases too.

The researchers also found that a genetic marker called HLA-DRB1*1501, which increases MS risk, actually changed which fungi people had in their gut. This suggests that genes and fungi interact with each other in ways that might affect MS development.

The study found that blood markers related to immune activity (chitotriosidase and calprotectin) were connected to specific fungi in MS patients. This suggests the immune system and fungi are communicating with each other. Additionally, dietary fats had a much stronger effect on fungal communities in MS patients than in healthy people, suggesting that MS patients’ bodies handle dietary fats differently, which then affects which fungi can survive in their gut.

Previous research has shown that the bacterial microbiota (bacteria in the gut) plays a role in MS, but very few studies had looked at fungi. This research fills an important gap by showing that fungi are also different in MS patients. The findings about Malassezia are particularly interesting because this fungus has been found in other neurological diseases, suggesting it might be a common problem across different brain and nerve conditions.

The study didn’t clearly state how many people participated, making it hard to know how reliable the results are. The research was done only in the Basque Country, so the findings might not apply to people from other regions or ethnic backgrounds. This was a snapshot study rather than following people over time, so researchers couldn’t prove that fungi cause MS—only that they’re associated with it. The study couldn’t determine whether the fungal changes cause MS symptoms or result from having MS. More research is needed to understand cause and effect.

The Bottom Line

This research is too early to recommend specific treatments or dietary changes. If you have MS, continue following your doctor’s current treatment plan. Don’t take antifungal medications or make major diet changes based on this study alone. However, this research suggests that future MS treatments might target gut fungi, so stay informed about new developments. (Confidence level: Low—this is preliminary research)

People with MS should be aware of this research as it may eventually lead to new treatments. Doctors and researchers studying MS should pay attention to these findings. People without MS don’t need to change anything based on this study. People with other neurological diseases might eventually benefit from similar research.

This is basic research that helps scientists understand MS better. It will likely take several years of additional studies before any new treatments based on these findings become available. Don’t expect immediate changes to MS treatment based on this work.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your dietary fat intake (oils, butter, nuts, fatty meats) and correlate it with MS symptom severity or fatigue levels on a weekly basis to see if patterns emerge in your personal data
  • Work with your healthcare provider to monitor how different dietary patterns affect your MS symptoms, keeping detailed notes on fat consumption and symptom changes to identify your personal triggers
  • Maintain a 12-week food and symptom diary noting fat intake and disability/fatigue scores, then review patterns with your doctor to see if personalized dietary adjustments might help manage your symptoms

This research is preliminary and does not establish that fungi cause multiple sclerosis or that changing your diet or taking antifungal medications will treat MS. If you have multiple sclerosis, continue following your doctor’s treatment recommendations. Do not make changes to your MS treatment or diet based solely on this study. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting new treatments or making significant dietary changes. This article is for educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice.