Multiple Sclerosis And Diet: Salt May Increase Risk Of Health Issue

Findings presented in the FASEB Journal reveal that a high salt intake may increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS).

"We hope to provide a comprehensive understanding of how and why environmental factors interact with individuals' unique genetic make up to influence autoimmune diseases such as MS," Dimitry N. Krementsov, a researcher involved in the work from the Department of Medicine, Immunobiology Program at the University of Vermont, said via Newsmax.

During the study, researchers fed three genetically different groups of mice a high salt diet or a control diet. Then, they induced a disease in the mice that mimicked human MS.

In one genetic group, both males and females fed a high salt diet showed worsening clinical signs of the disease, while in the other genetic group, only females showed a negative response to salt. The third group showed no signs related to the salt at all.

Researchers found that while genetics were the critical determinant, in the mice that did respond to salt, there were no direct changes in the function of their immune cells. However, they showed signs of a weakened blood-brain barrier.

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