Dietary restriction in multiple sclerosis: evidence from preclinical and clinical studies

Dietary restriction (DR) interventions, which encompass both chronic and intermittent reductions in energy intake, are emerging as potential therapeutic approaches for dampening neuroinflammation and demyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS). Mechanisms mediating the beneficial effects of DR include the regulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory signalling molecules and gut microbiome remodelling. This article summarises the preclinical evidence supporting the role of DR in attenuating disease in animal models of MS and the developing clinical evidence indicating the safety and feasibility of such DR interventions in people with MS (pwMS).