The relationship between the gut and MS is complex, according to J. William Lindsey, MD, director of the division of multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “It involves interactions between diet, nutritional status, the bacteria in the gut, and the activity of the immune system,” he explains.
So, how are these things connected?
For starters, “diet affects nutritional status, and it also changes the composition and activity of the bacteria in the gut microbiome,” says Dr. Lindsey.
This disruption in the gut bacteria can set off a chain reaction. “The microbiome can affect the activity of the white blood cells in the intestine, and these white blood cells can migrate to other parts of the body, including the brain,” says Lindsey. “The microbiome also produces metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids and altered bile acids that get into the blood and affect immune system activity.”