Swank diet
The Swank Diet is a low saturated fat diet for the management of multiple sclerosis developed by Dr. Roy L. Swank (1909-2008), which he introduced in 1948. Swank's research has been disputed due to methodological concerns while secondary sources suggest that diet interventions do not have any major effect on the disease.[1]
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[edit] The diet
The diet consists of:
- Saturated fat should not exceed 15 grams per day
- Unsaturated fat (oils) should be kept to 20-50 grams per day
- No red meat for the first year; after that, a maximum of 3 oz. (85 grams) of red meat per week
- Dairy products must contain 1% or less butterfat
- No processed foods containing saturated fat
- A good source of omega-3 (oily fish, cod liver oil, cod liver oil tablets, etc.) along with a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement are recommended daily
- Wheat, gluten or dairy product quantities are not restricted. But foods which cause allergies or reactions to an MS sufferer should be avoided
[edit] Research
Swank's research on 144 patients over a 34-year period was published in The Lancet (1990). The study showed that those who followed the diet had not shown any significant deterioration of their condition over a 34-year period, while those that did not follow the diet did significantly deteriorate over the same period.[2][3]
Swank's research has been disputed because it lacked double-blind testing. However, a new study (2011) on relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) is currently being conducted at the Oregon Health & Science University[4]. Some very limited secondary sources suggest that diet interventions, such as supplements of Omega-6 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids or vitamins do not have any major effect on the progression of the disease or number of relapses.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Farinotti M, Simi S, Di Pietrantonj C, et al (2007). "Dietary interventions for multiple sclerosis". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (1): CD004192. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004192.pub2. PMID 17253500.
- ^ Swank RL, Dugan BB (July 1990). "Effect of low saturated fat diet in early and late cases of multiple sclerosis". Lancet 336 (8706): 37–9. doi:10.1016/0140-6736(90)91533-G. PMID 1973220.
- ^ Swank RL, Goodwin J (2003). "Review of MS patient survival on a Swank low saturated fat diet". Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) 19 (2): 161–2. PMID 12591551.
- ^ http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/research/centers-institutes/neurology/multiple-sclerosis-center/research/ms-clinical-trials.cfm
[edit] External links
- Swank MS Diet site
- Interview with Dr. Roy Swank, MD
- 1995 radio interview with Dr Swank
- National MS Society [1]
- Oregon Health & Science University[2]
