Dietary Factors Associated with Multiple Sclerosis Risk in Kuwait

Context: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disorder of the central nervous system in which gene–environment interactions result in autoimmune targeting of neuronal myelin. In Kuwait, the rapid increase in MS prevalence is in tandem with evident changes in diet and lifestyle habits. Aim: To assess dietary and lifestyle habits of 128 MS patient during their preadult years in comparison to 211 Kuwaiti healthy controls. Methods: A questionnaire inclusive of demographics, lifestyle, and dietary habits in preadult years was administered to MS patients and healthy controls. Results: We found an increased risk of MS in the Kuwaiti adult life is associated with a positive family history and poor preadult dietary habits inclusive of low fresh fruit and vegetable consumption and increased processed food intake. Whereas, passive smoking, preadult weekly physical activity, adolescence milk and fish consumption, and childhood prepacked snacks consumption did not differ between MS and healthy controls. Conclusion: Sudden shifts in dietary habits of the Kuwaiti population in the past two decades have contributed to the increased prevalence of MS in Kuwait. Current management recommendations of MS disease should consider the inclusion of a plant-based, minimally processed dietary regimen in conjunction with MS disease modifying treatments.