Abstract
Background: Due to the inflammatory nature of multiple sclerosis (MS), interleukin 6 (IL-6) is high in blood levels, and it also increases the levels of anxiety related to functional disability. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) decreases IL-6, which could be enhanced by the anti-inflammatory effect of high ketone bodies after administering coconut oil (both of which are an anxiolytic). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of coconut oil and EGCG on the levels of IL-6, anxiety and functional disability in patients with MS. Methods: A pilot study was conducted for four months with 51 MS patients who were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group received 800 mg of EGCG and 60 mL of coconut oil, and the control group was prescribed a placebo. Both groups followed the same isocaloric Mediterranean diet. State and trait anxiety were determined before and after the study by means of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). In addition, IL-6 in serum was measured using the ELISA technique and functional capacity was determined with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the body mass index (BMI). Results: State anxiety and functional capacity decreased in the intervention group and IL-6 decreased in both groups. Conclusions: EGCG and coconut oil improve state anxiety and functional capacity. In addition, a decrease in IL-6 is observed in patients with MS, possibly due to the antioxidant capacity of the Mediterranean diet and its impact on improving BMI.
Highlights
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory and autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that causes a progressive deterioration of the myelin sheath associated with axonal injuries at a neuronal level, leading to functional disability
The aim of this study was to assess the impact of coconut oil and Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and anxiety related to functional disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients
After conducting our study, the results prove a decrease in IL-6 levels in the group that received both EGCG and coconut oil
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory and autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that causes a progressive deterioration of the myelin sheath associated with axonal injuries at a neuronal level, leading to functional disability. This neuronal damage is mainly based on high oxidative stress and inflammation in the central nervous system, affecting the permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and allowing autoreactive T cells, B cells, macrophages and microglia to access and especially damage the white matter in the brain and spinal cord [1,2,3]. IL-6 in serum was measured using the ELISA technique and functional capacity was determined with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the body mass index (BMI)
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