Skip to content

Intermittent Fasting in Multiple Sclerosis

Randomized Controlled Trial on Intermittent Fasting in Multiple Sclerosis

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03539094
Acronym
IFMS
Enrollment
61
Registered
2018-05-29
Start date
2018-01-01
Completion date
2022-01-20
Last updated
2024-01-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Keywords

Multiple Sclerosis, Intermittent fasting, western diet, microbiome

Brief summary

This is a randomized controlled trial that will test the effects of intermittent fasting (IF) in subjects with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). The goal of this clinical trial is to acquire objective evidence regarding whether an IF diet has beneficial effects in MS patients.Two dietary regimens, IF and western diet, will be compared in a randomized, controlled, single-blinded 12 week trial in RRMS patients. This is a single-center study.

Detailed description

RRMS patients will be enrolled in a randomized, controlled, single-blinded 12 week trial in which IF will be compared to a standard western diet. Patients will be recruited at the John L. Trotter MS center and randomly assigned to either a standard western diet or an IF diet (1:1). Enrolled subjects will complete a clinical and laboratory assessment before starting the diet (baseline), at week 6 and at end of the study (week 12). The primary outcome will be leptin at week 12 measured in the peripheral blood. Secondary outcomes will be: 1) peripheral blood metabolic profiling; 2) anthropometric (body mass index and waist circumference) and total body fat measures; 3) gut microbiota richness and composition.

Interventions

OTHERIntermittent fasting

the subjects randomized to this group will do IF by restricting their diet and consuming few calories two days per week. During the days of fasting, subjects will be allowed to drink water, calorie-free beverages, and eat fresh, steamed or roasted non-starchy vegetables.

Sponsors

Washington University School of Medicine
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Outcome assessors will be blinded to the intervention because they will not know the group assignment.

Intervention model description

Randomized controlled clinical trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Diagnosis of RRMS (2010 Mc Donald criteria). * EDSS \<6.0 and disease duration ≤ 15 years. * On an injectable therapy for MS, glatiramer acetate (GA) or beta-interferon (beta-IFN) for at least 3 months prior to the study and with no anticipated changes of the medication for the 12 week study duration. * Age ≥18 years. * BMI \> 22 and \< 35 kg/m2 with stable weight in the 3 months prior to screening.

Exclusion criteria

* History of any chronic disease process (excluding MS) that could interfere with interpretation of results. * Diagnosis in the past of an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating). * Relapsing at the time of enrollment. * On corticosteroid treatment (oral or intravenous) in the past month. Nasal corticosteroid treatments are allowed. * Diagnosis of diabetes or at time of OGTT (fasting glucose \>126 mg/dl or \> 200 mg/dl at 2 hours with a load of 75 g of glucose * History of food allergies or food intolerance that would interfere with the study. * History of antibiotic treatment within the past 3 months prior to enrollment * Use of anticoagulant drugs (like Warfarin or Coumadin) that need to monitor their intake of vegetables containing high levels of vitamin K. * Currently on a special diet and not willing to stop at least one month prior to enrollment * Currently taking omega 3/fish oil supplements and not willing to stop administration one month prior to enrollment * Currently pregnant or plan to become pregnant within 6 months * Current tobacco or e-cigarette smoker

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Leptin12 weeksLeptin at week 12 measured in the peripheral blood

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Peripheral metabolic and inflammatory profiling12 weeksAdipokine and inflammatory markers at week 12 measured in the peripheral blood
Anthropometric measure12 weeksWeight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/mg\^2
Gut microbiota12 weeksGut microbiota richness and composition

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 5, 2026