According to a study conducted at the University of British Columbia, diets rich in guar gum, a food additive, would delay the onset of multiple sclerosis symptoms and limit inflammation.
The rise in the number of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in industrialized countries in recent decades shows that diet plays an important role in the incidence of these conditions, says Dr. Lisa Osborne, assistant professor at the University of British Columbia in Canada. . The study results indicate that some dietary fiber, also used as a food additive, could reduce inflammation in multiple sclerosis. For now, at least in mice.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. In the case of people suffering from this disease, the symptoms are extensive and varied: motor disorders, balance problems, concentration problems, vision problems …) and frequently manifest themselves in the form of pus, with periods of remission.
A diet that consists of a higher intake of dietary fiber is beneficial for people with multiple sclerosis, says Dr. Osborne. He is studying whether a diet high in soluble fiber could help reduce inflammation and mitigate autoimmunity in sufferers.
For this study, which was recently published in the journal Cell report, Canadian researchers exposed mice to different diets: a control diet with 5% cellulose fiber, a diet completely free of dietary fiber, and a diet enriched with 30% fiber (pectin, resistant starch or guar gum). The results show that guar gum is the only one capable of reducing inflammation and limiting the number of SEP cysts.
Frequently used as a thickener in food preparations (this is what lies behind the additive E 412), guar gum is obtained from the seeds of a legume (Cyamopsis tetragonolobus – guar bean).
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