Exploring dietary approaches in the prevention and management of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A literature review

Ubaid Ansari; Jimmy Wen; Isabel Taguinod; Dawnica Nadora; Denise Nadora; Forshing Lui; Ubaid Ansari; Jimmy Wen; Isabel Taguinod; Dawnica Nadora; Denise Nadora; Forshing Lui

doi:10.3934/Neuroscience.2023028

AIMS Neuroscience

2023, Volume 10, Issue 4: 376-387. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2023028

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Review

Exploring dietary approaches in the prevention and management of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A literature review

California Northstate University College of Medicine, USA

Received: 20 October 2023 Revised: 22 November 2023 Accepted: 26 November 2023 Published: 29 November 2023

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal and complex neurodegenerative disease of upper and lower motor neurons of the central nervous system. The pathogenesis of this multifaceted disease is unknown. However, diet has emerged as a modifiable risk factor that has neuroprotective effects towards other neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and dementia. Thus, this review aims to explore how diet can potentially influence ALS onset and/or progression. In this review, five popular diets (Mediterranean, Vegan, Carnivore, Paleolithic and Ketogenic) and their distinct macromolecule composition, nutritional profile, biochemical pathways and their potential therapeutic effects for ALS are thoroughly examined. However, the composition of these diets varies, and the data is controversial, with conflicting studies on the effectiveness of nutrient intake of several of these diets. Although these five diets show that a higher intake of foods containing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds have a positive correlation towards reducing the oxidative stress of ALS, further research is needed to directly compare the effects of these diets and the mechanisms leading to ALS and its progression.
- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,
- neurodegenerative disease,
- mediterranean diet,
- vegan diet,
- carnivore diet,
- paleolithic diet,
- ketogenic diet
Citation: Ubaid Ansari, Jimmy Wen, Isabel Taguinod, Dawnica Nadora, Denise Nadora, Forshing Lui. Exploring dietary approaches in the prevention and management of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A literature review[J]. AIMS Neuroscience, 2023, 10(4): 376-387. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2023028

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Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal and complex neurodegenerative disease of upper and lower motor neurons of the central nervous system. The pathogenesis of this multifaceted disease is unknown. However, diet has emerged as a modifiable risk factor that has neuroprotective effects towards other neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and dementia. Thus, this review aims to explore how diet can potentially influence ALS onset and/or progression. In this review, five popular diets (Mediterranean, Vegan, Carnivore, Paleolithic and Ketogenic) and their distinct macromolecule composition, nutritional profile, biochemical pathways and their potential therapeutic effects for ALS are thoroughly examined. However, the composition of these diets varies, and the data is controversial, with conflicting studies on the effectiveness of nutrient intake of several of these diets. Although these five diets show that a higher intake of foods containing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds have a positive correlation towards reducing the oxidative stress of ALS, further research is needed to directly compare the effects of these diets and the mechanisms leading to ALS and its progression.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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