Dietary Approaches to Treat Multiple Sclerosis-Related Fatigue Study

Inclusion Criteria:

Willing to allow your neurologist to sign a letter confirming multiple sclerosis diagnosis and criteria used in diagnosis
Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis as documented by the McDonald Criteria confirmed by their treating neurologist
Fatigue as documented by a Fatigue Severity Scale score of greater than or equal to 4
Between the ages of 18 and 70
Body Mass Index greater than or equal to 19
Ability to shop for and prepare or have someone in the family shop for and prepare home cooked meals according to study diet guidelines
Willingness to keep detailed food records
Willing to eat a diet that includes more vegetables and excludes many comfort foods such as those made with white flour,
Willing to eat a diet that eliminates red meat (beef, pork, lamb, veal) and saturated fats (butter, coconut oil, margarine, hydrogenated oils found in processed foods) to 1 tablespoon per day
Must not be pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next year
Willing to eat meat (eg, chicken, turkey, fish)
Willingness to follow either the Wahls Elimination diet or the Swank diet
Individuals who have had gastric bypass surgery have obtained a signed statement from their physician indicating they are weight stable and a suitable candidate for this study
Normal or mild cognitive impairment as measured by the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire
Willing to have blood drawn
Be able to walk 25 feet without support, or with only unilateral support (i.e. cane in one hand)

Exclusion Criteria:

Taking insulin or Coumadin
Relapse within past 12 weeks
Treatment for a cancer (other than skin cancer) currently or in the prior 12 months
Diagnosis of heart failure, liver cirrhosis, angina, history of kidney stones, psychiatric disease likely to make adherence to the study interventions more difficult including eating disorders, but excluding depression and anxiety
Body Mass Index less than 19
Moderate to severe mental impairment as measured by the Short Portable Mental Status questionnaire
Inability to shop for and prepare home cooked meals by the subject or a companion
Unwillingness to eat meat
Participation in another research study that involves multiple sclerosis or other medications, diet, supplement, exercise or other treatments
Inability to keep food records with sufficient detail to asses dietary intake or complete study questionnaires
Unwilling to have blood drawn
Pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next year