Abstract
Background/Objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with variable degrees of inflammation and gliosis. Diet and lifestyle factors could influence MS development and also contribute to inflammation. The current study aims to evaluate the relationship between dietary and lifestyle inflammatory potential and multiple sclerosis severity. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed. Data collection included demographic, neurological, and nutritional information. The Dietary Inflammatory Score (DIS) and Lifestyle Inflammatory Score (LIS) were calculated based on the reference protocol. Results: One hundred and seven participants (69.2% female; mean age, 50.6 ± 11.6 years) completed the study. The anti-inflammatory LIS group had significantly higher proportions of normal-weight (p = 0.000) and physically active (p = 0.022) participants. A greater proportion of women exhibited an anti-inflammatory lifestyle compared to men (80% vs. 20%; p = 0.023). No relation was retrieved between the DIS, LIS, and MS Severity Score (MSSS). When analyzing the single DIS components, leafy greens were associated with MS severity (OR 1.67; 95% CI, 1.50-18.74; p = 0.009). Among the LIS components, "high physical activity" (OR 5.51; 95% CI, 1.66-18.30; p = 0.005) and "heavy drinking" (OR 5.61; 95% CI, 1.19-26.47; p = 0.029) were related to lower MS severity. Conclusions: Although no differences were found in the total Dietary and Lifestyle Inflammatory Scores, some of their components might be connected with MS severity. Further intervention studies are needed to validate these findings.