EFFECT OF THE MIND DIET ON FATIGUE, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND BRAIN FOG IN PATİENTS WİTH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: STUDY PROTOCOL FOR A PARALLEL-GROUP RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Multiple sclerosis (MS), known to affect many individuals, can often lead to symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive impairment, and depression, thereby adversely affecting quality of life. Therefore, the aim of this planned single-center, randomized controlled trial is to determine the effects of implementing the MIND diet or a standard diet program on quality of life, fatigue, cognition, and brain fog symptoms in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). The study will include 62 adult RRMS patients living in Muğla, Türkiye. Eligible patients who agree to participate will be randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to the MIND diet or standard diet group for a 12-week intervention. Participants will be monitored weekly for adherence to the interventions. Primary outcomes will include determining the effects of dietary interventions on Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54) Questionnaire, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) battery, and Brain Fog Scale. Secondary outcomes will consist of blood parameters including body composition and complete blood count, biochemical parameters (fasting glucose, lipid profile, liver enzymes, albümin), C-reactive protein, thyroid hormones, and folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin D levels. The results of this study may help determine the potential beneficial effects of the MIND diet on MS-related fatigue, reduced quality of life, cognitive dysfunction, and brain fog, contribute to comparing these findings with existing evidence in the literature, and provide up-to-date evidence. In addition, it may contribute to the development of a new nutritional therapy for MS.