Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41612786›Full record

SynthesisBrain and behavior2026

Association between Mediterranean Diet and Development of Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Fatemeh Shakouri, Morteza Lotfi, Ali Rostami, Mahnaz Talebi, Sarvin Sanaie, Amirreza Naseri

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Brain and behavior, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Fatemeh ShakouriStudent Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2230-1641
Morteza LotfiStudent Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4505-6849
Ali RostamiStudent Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0326-2298
Mahnaz TalebiNeurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7613-3913
Sarvin SanaieResearch Center for Integrative Medicine in Aging, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2325-5631
Amirreza NaseriResearch Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, Iranian EBM Centre: A Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Center of Excellence, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9723-0109

Funding

Tabriz University of Medical Sciences 73644
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Given the conflicting evidence regarding the impact of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on MS development and the lack of a systematic review on this topic, this study aimed to examine this association.

methodsFollowing the PRISMA and JBI methods, a search of electronic databases was conducted through PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus up to March 2024. Clinical original studies assessing the association between the MedDiet adherence and MS development were included. Risk of bias was evaluated using JBI critical appraisal tools. Meta-analyses were performed using CMA4 software.

resultsOut of 202 screened records, eight studies, including five case-control and three cohort studies, met the inclusion criteria. Retrospective evidence from three case-control studies suggested that MedDiet adherence is associated with decreased odds of MS, whereas cohort studies showed no significant relationship. Based on the meta-analysis, there was a significant association between high adherence to the MedDiet and reduced odds of MS (fixed-effect OR: 0.275, 95% CI: 0.11-0.72, p-value <0.01, least MedDiet adherence as the reference). DISCUSSION: Although the meta-analysis showed a significant inverse association between higher adherence to the MedDiet and the odds of MS, the overall body of evidence does not provide strong support for a preventive role of the MedDiet. Considering the limited number of included studies, the predominantly retrospective design, the high risk of bias in several studies, and the substantial observed heterogeneity, further well-designed prospective studies are needed.

Indexed as

Diet, MediterraneanMultiple SclerosisHumansdietdiet, Mediterraneanmeta‐analysismultiple sclerosissystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41612786
PMCPMC12856230

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.