MS: Probable Cause and Best Bet Treatment

BEST BET DIET BOOK
Scientific Papers

"MS: Probable Cause and Best Bet Treatment" Dr. Ashton Embry © 1996
Section 14: Suggested Treatment
An effective treatment for MS clearly depends on knowing the cause of the disease. The treatment which is suggested below assumes that diet is the main cause of MS onset and progression because it best fits the extensive epidemiological data base and is theoretically plausible. The treatment has two components: (1) halting the activation of T-cells against the CNS and reducing the ongoing damage to the BBB and (2) strengthening the BBB. Halting T-cell Activation and Reducing Damage to the BBB 1. The first step in halting T-cell activation and reducing the continuous irritation of the BBB is the scientific identification of all food hypersensitivities. There are various methods used to test for food hypersensitivities (Bateson- Koch, 1994) and each has advantages and disadvantages The three most reliable methods, which are scientifically based, are described and evaluated below. For IgE-mediated, immediate hypersensitivity, the cheapest and most easily accessible method is skin testing. The main drawback to this method is that it only looks at one component of hypersensitivity (IgE) and thus, at best, it provides only very limited data for identifying one's offending foods. If only such a test is used many major food hypersensitivities may well be overlooked. A second method for identifying immune-reactive foods is a blood test using either a RAST (Radioallergosorbent) or ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) methodology. Both of these methodologies measure the amounts of various antibodies produced when a blood sample is challenged with a given food protein. The ELISA methodology is somewhat more sensitive than the RAST (Elgert, 1996) and is cheaper to do. Usually both IgE and IgG4 (a subclass of IgG, the most common antibody type) are measured. In some tests all four subclasses of IgG are measured. The advantages of this type of test is that it is non- invasive ("in vitro"), easy to administer, relatively cheap and can cover most common foods. Also, by measuring IgG4, foods which cause delayed hypersensitivity (e.g. Type III reactions), are also uncovered. The disadvantage of such blood tests is that they tend to be only about 80% accurate and false negatives can occur. Also, because these tests only measure antibody production, they do not provide direct data on foods causing the activation of T-cells against the CNS (Type IV reactions). Thus the data should be regarded as a guide to your food sensitivities with the realization that others may remain to be identified. A third method is the use of an elemental diet followed by individual food challenges. Foods which cause a reaction and result in a symptom (e.g. headache, stomach ache, numbness, etc.) are readily identified as being hypersensitive. This methodology, because it involves the body's reactions ("in vivo") to foods, is perhaps the most reliable method for identifying foods which cause hypersensitivity reactions. Also foods which result in all three types of hypersensitivity reactions can be identified. The drawbacks are that it is very time consuming and potentially expensive. Also there is some question if MS symptoms consistently become apparent on food challenges. Other blood tests which may help uncover foods which cause damaging immune reactions are the cytotoxic test and a test which measures the level of immune complexes in the blood. The relationship of the results of these tests to food hypersensitivities is somewhat debatable but such data are undoubtedly of some value. There are a number of unconventional tests available such as muscle tests and pulse tests. It is difficult to evaluate the reliability of these tests because there is no theoretical basis for the relationship between food hypersensitivities and the measured effects and they have never been scientifically validated. I would suggest such tests not be used in place of the above scientific tests until more data on their reliability and scientific basis are obtained. From my experience I strongly recommend that all dairy, cereal grains, yeast, eggs and legumes be completely avoided. These are the foods with the highest potential to cause the activation of T- cells against the CNS. I would also suggest the use of an ELISA blood-allergy test (see Appendix). It will detect most food hypersensitivities (Type I, III) and it provides a quantitative result. As discussed, use of this test in my son's therapy was very valuable and successful and many others have also found it to be very informative. The food challenge method can be used subsequently if problems remain after all ELISA-identified, offending foods are removed from one's diet. Also one should always be aware of how a given food affects them and eliminate foods which consistently result in discomfort and minor symptoms (fatigue, tingling, etc.). 2. As has been discussed, MS is in part due to a leaky BBB caused by food-induced immune reactions and high intake of saturated fats. One of the reasons that food-induced immune reactions occur in the circulatory system is the occurrence of another "leaky" area in the body, a "leaky gut". A leaky gut refers to increased permeability of the intestinal tract and results in food proteins being able to pass between intestinal cells into the circulatory system. This of course sets off the destructive immune reactions which eventually result in various diseases including MS (Butkus and Mahan, 1986). Laboratories offer intestinal permeability tests (see appendix) although I would suggest you save time and money and assume that you have a leaky gut and take steps to heal it. Increased permeability has various causes including NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) useage, infection, candida overgrowth, parasites, ingestion of allergic foods, alcoholism, and trauma. It is important to eliminate the source of the problem (e.g. candida overgrowth) and to take various supplements to heal and protect the gut. These include acidophilus, enzymes, fish oil, borage oil and glutamine. 3. Finally, to protect against the formation of damaging micro-emboli, it is essential to decrease your intake of saturated fats to 15 grams or less a day. In this regard stop eating any margarine and any red meat. Swank and Dugan (1987) provide much information on saturated fats in foods and foods to avoid. As noted earlier these authors also present impressive data from a thirty-five year, longitudinal study which demonstrates the effectiveness of an ultra-low fat diet (Swank and Dugan, 1990). This study, which is unique in MS research, was misrepresented and wrongly interpreted by Sibley (1992). I would also suggest that you have routine cholesterol level tests to make sure your low fat diet is effective. If cholesterol levels remain high you might consider drug therapy to lower the level.
End section 14.