Clinically Isolated Syndrome and Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

A key question in efforts to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is whether a therapeutic lifestyle (diet, stress reduction and exercise) is inferior to disease-modifying drug treatments in terms of reducing multiple sclerosis related symptoms, improving function and quality of life, and reducing the number of acute inflammatory lesions and loss of brain volume. This study will prospectively assess the changes in quality of life and clinical outcomes in two cohorts of patients who are recently diagnosed with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to begin answering that question.

The goal of this project is to compare a diet and therapeutic lifestyle only treatment usual care in the setting of newly diagnosed individuals with RRMS or CIS, which is the precursor to the development of MS. Due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, the study was redesigned from an in-person study to a virtual visit only study prior to enrolling study subjects.

The goal of this project is to compare a diet and therapeutic lifestyle only treatment usual care in the setting of newly diagnosed individuals with RRMS or CIS, which is the precursor to the development of MS. The current standard of care typically includes disease-modifying drug treatment at the initial diagnosis of RRMS or CIS. Many patients are interested in adopting a therapeutic lifestyle as their initial approach to either RRMS or CIS. Some patients decline drug therapy due to high costs and or concerns about potential medication adverse events. There are no known scientific studies that have prospectively assessed outcomes for newly-diagnosed patients who decline disease-modifying drug treatment and instead utilized only a therapeutic diet and lifestyle to manage their MS-related symptoms. This study will prospectively investigate the effect of a therapeutic diet and lifestyle on quality of life, motor, cognitive and visual function, and brain structure in patients who have been trained and supported by the study team to utilize therapeutic diet and lifestyle to optimize neuronal health and those who are receiving usual care.

Our initial pilot study in the setting of progressive MS included diet and targeted supplements, stress reduction, exercise, and electrical stimulation of muscles and demonstrated significant reduction in fatigue, improvement in quality of life and improved mood and cognition. Subsequent pilot studies which utilized a diet-only intervention in the setting of RRMS demonstrated improved quality of life and improved walking and hand function.

Intervention arm:

This study will again utilize a multimodal approach, a low-lectin modified Paleolithic elimination diet, stress reduction (breathing meditation exercise) and an exercise (daily walking and three times a week body weight strengthening) program in the absence of drug disease modifying treatment and targeted supplements in the intervention arm. The control arm will receive usual care.

Supplements (intervention arm only) Participants will be asked to continue taking any dietary supplements they report at beginning of study with the exception of supplements that are similar to those they will be taking as part of the study which they will be asked to discontinue and replace with study-approved brands (2 grams of fish oil, 1000 mcg methylB12 , 400 mcg methyl folate, pyridoxine 1.5 mg and N acetylcysteine 500 mg per day, and 2000 IU vitamin D3 .

The study will use videos from a three day seminar that teaches the public how to utilize a therapeutic diet and lifestyle to improve cellular physiology which may favorably impact disease progression to educate study participants. A registered dietitian with training in motivational interviewing and health coaching will call participants to provide coaching and support to participants as they adopt the study diet, breathing meditation and exercise program and begin the study supplements. The study coordinator and or registered dietitian will moderate monthly support group video conference meetings for participants in the intervention arm. The control arm will receive a monthly text/ email providing a summary to a recently published clinical trial related to multiple sclerosis / clinically isolated syndrome patients that is not related to diet quality or use of a therapeutic diet or lifestyle.

AIMS Aim 1: To assess the magnitude of change in perceived quality of life over 12 months in newly-diagnosed, disease modifying drug treatment naïve RRMS or CIS patients within and between two groups. Group one will receive standard of care. Group two will receive a therapeutic diet and lifestyle intervention that is taught and supported virtually.

Aim 2. To assess the change in central nervous system (CNS) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and change in MS related overall symptoms and function changes overtime using abstractions of the medical record progress notes (improved, stable, worse).

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* 1) A diagnosis of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) or CIS according to the 2010 McDonald's criteria, confirmed by the treating neurologist within 12 months of completing the first study visit.2) Must consent to sharing the clinical notes from their primary care and neurology providers during the study period.3) Must reside within the lower 48 states within the United States.4) Agreement by the treating neurologist that the patient may enroll in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1) Moderate or severe mental impairment as measured by the Short Portable Mental Health Questionnaire. 2) Presence of a contraindication to completing a brain MRI or having claustrophobia which interferes with completion of MRI studies without the use of sedation. 3) Taking insulin or Coumadin® medication. 4) History of oxalate kidney stones, schizophrenia, or active diagnosis of eating disorder. 5) Greater than 12 months since initial diagnosis of RRMS or CIS and first study visit.