While the diversity of gut bacteria in children with multiple sclerosis appears to be no different than that of children without the condition, children with multiple sclerosis have more gut microbes linked to inflammation and fewer considered to be anti-inflammatory. This is the conclusion of a new study published in the European Journal of Neurology.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease thought to be triggered by genetic and environmental factors, including infections.
In MS, the immune system destroys myelin – the protein insulation that surrounds the nerves of the spinal cord, brain, and optic nerve, causing the electrical impulses that travel to and from these areas to leak out.
As the disease progresses, symptoms – beginning with mild numbness in the limbs – gradually worsen, resulting in paralysis and blindness.
People with relapsing-remitting MS – the most common form of MS – experience symptom flare-ups interspersed with periods of recovery.
The human body contains 10 times more microbial cells than human cells, and over 90 percent of them live in the gut, where they help synthesize vitamins, regulate the immune system, and protect against infection… Read More>>
