Two years after the start of the lifestyle program 'Leef! met MS' participants with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience less symptoms than before, both fysically and mentally. Additionally, their lifestyle remained healthier, even after the intensive guidance stopped. This has been reported in a study from Amsterdam UMC with 659 participants with MS.
The lifestyle program 'Leef! met MS' revolves around unprocessed foods according to the Mediterranean nutrition pattern (lots of vegetables, health fats, fish and little meat), exercise, relaxation, and sleep. Participants first followed an intensive period of three months, followed by a 21-month maintenance programs, with fewer meetings to maintain the previously built up habits. During these two years MS-related symotoms, quality of life, fatigue, mood, and weight were measured using questionnaires.
Biggest win in nutrition
The most progress in lifestyle was made during the first three months. During this period participants dealed intensively with nutrition, exercise, stress, and sleep. Aftwerwards the progress slowly declined, but did not disappear completely. For example, weight reduction remained. The most and most lasting progress was booked around nutrition. Participants kept eating healthier. Also, in the fields of stress and sleep participants kept improving. Two years later participants still reported less MS-related symptoms, than prior to the program.
Effective short and long term
The results show that for patients with MS a lifestyle program does not only deliver advantages on short term but also on long term. MS usually progresses slowly. Therefore, stability of MS-related complaints - such as decreasing of sight or problems with walking - is also a valuable outcome. The study demonstrates that lifestyle changes by participants were easier to perserve in a period of intensive guidance. When meetings would take place less frequent, changes were harder to maintain. This provides starting points for future research, for example in personal guidance or better fit to daily life.
Biological processes
Because this study did not have a comparator group for the intervetion program, it can not be stated for certain that the discovered outcomes in MS-related symptoms are a result of the lifestyle program. Researcher and neurologist Brigit de Jong: 'In future research we want to discover how lifestyle affects the biological processes in MS, such as chronic inflammation. We are currently acquiring financial support to start this research.'