Assessing the Relationship between Dietary Phytochemical Index and Fatigue Severity in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract

Background: Phytochemical-rich foods have anti-inflammatory effects and play a role in the prevention and control of inflammatory diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Although some aspects of a diet high in phytochemicals promoting health and preventing chronic diseases are known, further studies are required to confirm the previous findings. Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between Dietary Phytochemical Index (DPI) and fatigue severity in patients with MS. A total of 240 patients aged 18 to 65 years were selected from the MS Association center of Golestan province. A valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate the diet, and fatigue severity was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) questionnaire. DPI was calculated using the formula [daily energy from foods rich in phytochemicals (kcal) divided by total daily energy intake (kcal)] and was calculated as 100. Results: After controlling for potential confounding factors, the highest tertile of DPI had a lower prevalence of fatigue symptoms (odds ratio (OR: 0.27; 95%CI: 0.03-0.36; p=0.012) compared to those in the lowest tertile. The average age of the study participants was 31.9±7.7 years, and the fatigue score scale among the participants was 39.31±11.62. Conclusion: In conclusion, a significant inverse relationship between DPI and fatigue severity was observed in patients with MS. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.