Obesity can Lead to Multiple Sclerosis
Individuals who are obese in early adulthood face a heightened risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life, according to new research conducted by Dr. Brent Richards of the Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, Quebec, Canada and colleagues, published in PLOS Medicine
Obesity is an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual's ideal body weight. Obesity is a serious and increasingly common condition associated with increased risk of illness, disability, and death. While studies of nutrition in general and nutrition related issues for people with MS specifically are limited, there is a growing body of research that suggests obesity may contribute to the incidence of MS. Besides, obesity is associated with the progression of disability in people who already have MS. Results of several recent studies suggest that obesity, or specifically a higher Body Mass Index (BMI), during adolescence may be a risk factor for the development of MS. And when MS does develop in people with high adolescent BMI, symptoms occur at an earlier age.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic degenerative inflammatory neurological disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.
Evidence is building that being overweight early in life might
increase the chance of developing
multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life.
With MS, the body's
immune system attacks the central nervous system, leading to the
deterioration of the myelin sheath - the fatty substance that
protects nerve fibers - and sometimes even the nerve fibers
themselves. This destruction creates scar tissue that can interrupt
communication between the
brain and the rest of the body, causing symptoms like, fatigue,
weakness, numbness, tingling, and issues with vision and balance.
According to Jeffrey Dunn, MD, clinical professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford Health Care in Stanford, California, results of a study suggest an odd ratio of two to one, meaning that 20-year-olds with a BMI of 30 or greater are twice as likely to develop MS as those with lower BMIs. Another study indicates that, overweight children as young as 7 face a higher risk for developing MS later in life, according to Joseph Berger, MD, a neurology professor with a clinical specialty in MS at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Contributing Factors:
- Obesity contributes to chronic low-grade inflammation and release of cytokines that influence immune response. Adipose tissue produces and releases a variety of proinflammatory cytokines, including leptin, which promotes Th1 responses and reduces regulatory T-cell activity.
- Obesity is known to contribute to Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D plays several important roles in our body. It promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains adequate calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood. It is required for bone growth and helps to prevent osteoporosis. Vitamin D also has a role as an immune function regulator.
- Insulin Resistance is associated with chronic inflammation
and oxidative stress, two things that can lead to MS. Waist
circumference (belly
fat) is a better indicator of risk for insulin resistance
than BMI. This may be especially true in people with
disabilities.
It's not known whether losing weight can reduce the risk in people with obesity and MS. But, it's important to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle for every aspect of your life.
Ref:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/
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