Diet and physical activity in multiple sclerosis: associations with quality of life and disability by disease duration.
7 affiliations
- 1Neuroepidemiology Unit, Centre of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. [email protected].
- 2Neuroepidemiology Unit, Centre of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- 3Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- 4Kessler Foundation, West Orange, NJ, USA.
- 5Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology, The Research Center in Cooperation with AUVA, Vienna, Austria.
- 6Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria.
- 7Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis, Waltham, MA, USA.
Abstract
Background
Healthy lifestyle factors are associated with higher quality of life (QoL) and reduced disability in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Whether these associations differ according to MS duration is unclear. We examined associations between diet, supplement use, wellness activities, and physical activity with QoL and ambulatory disability, and whether these associations differed between pwMS diagnosed within ≤ 5 years versus > 5 years.Methods
Cross-sectional self-reported survey data from 1,083 pwMS were analysed. Diet, supplement use, and wellness activities were queried via tick-box options and recategorised. Physical activity was assessed using the Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. QoL was measured using Neuro-QoL, and ambulatory disability using the Patient Determined Disease Steps. Multivariable linear and moderation analyses were conducted.Results
Associations differed by MS duration: a low-saturated fat diet and "other" diets were associated with lower QoL in the > 5-years group, whereas omega-3 supplement use was associated with higher physical QoL in the ≤ 5-years group. Physical activity was associated with higher QoL in both groups, with mostly stronger associations within ≤ 5-years. Very active physical activity was associated with lower ambulatory disability across both groups. Mind-based wellness activities were associated with lower QoL in the > 5-years group, with no group differences. Vitamin D supplement use was not associated with outcomes.Conclusions
Physical activity is associated with higher QoL and lower disability irrespective of MS duration and should be integrated across the disease course. MS duration may modify associations between other lifestyle factors and QoL, supporting consideration of disease stage when tailoring lifestyle recommendations.
Related
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BibTeX
@article{nag2026diet,
title = {{Diet and physical activity in multiple sclerosis: associations with quality of life and disability by disease duration.}},
author = {Nupur Nag and Maggie Yu and Cristina A F Román and Annette Vaglio-Garro and Hollie Schmidt},
journal = {Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s10072-026-09352-2},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42900254},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Diet and physical activity in multiple sclerosis: associations with quality of life and disability by disease duration.
AU - Nupur Nag
AU - Maggie Yu
AU - Cristina A F Román
AU - Annette Vaglio-Garro
AU - Hollie Schmidt
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
DO - 10.1007/s10072-026-09352-2
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42900254
AB - Background Healthy lifestyle factors are associated with higher quality of life (QoL) and reduced disability in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Whether these associations differ according to MS duration is unclear. We examined associations between diet, supplement use, wellness activities, and physical activity with QoL and ambulatory disability, and whether these associations differed between pwMS diagnosed within ≤ 5 years versus > 5 years.Methods Cross-sectional self-reported survey data from 1,083 pwMS were analysed. Diet, supplement use, and wellness activities were queried via tick-box options and recategorised. Physical activity was assessed using the Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. QoL was measured using Neuro-QoL, and ambulatory disability using the Patient Determined Disease Steps. Multivariable linear and moderation analyses were conducted.Results Associations differed by MS duration: a low-saturated fat diet and "other" diets were associated with lower QoL in the > 5-years group, whereas omega-3 supplement use was associated with higher physical QoL in the ≤ 5-years group. Physical activity was associated with higher QoL in both groups, with mostly stronger associations within ≤ 5-years. Very active physical activity was associated with lower ambulatory disability across both groups. Mind-based wellness activities were associated with lower QoL in the > 5-years group, with no group differences. Vitamin D supplement use was not associated with outcomes.Conclusions Physical activity is associated with higher QoL and lower disability irrespective of MS duration and should be integrated across the disease course. MS duration may modify associations between other lifestyle factors and QoL, supporting consideration of disease stage when tailoring lifestyle recommendations.
SN - 1590-1874
SN - 1590-3478
ER -