Swank Multiple Sclerosis diet

The Swank Multiple Sclerosis Diet is a low saturated fat diet for the management of Multiple Sclerosis championed by Dr. Roy L. Swank, since 1948.

Swank's research on 144 patients over a 34 year period was published in one of the worlds leading medical journals, The Lancet on July 7th 1990. The results of the study showed that those who followed the diet had not shown any significant deterioration of their condition over a 34 year period. Conversely, those that did not follow the diet did significantly deteriorate over the same period. More recent articles, have shown that after 44 years, the patients who had continued to follow this diet had not shown any significant deterioration of their condition. Dr. Swank no longer treats patients himself, but The Swank MS Foundation is a public charity that provides information and resources on the diet.

Dr. Swank's research has been disputed by some, due to lacking documented double blind testing. For that reason, many in the medical community do not accept the Swank Diet as a treatment for MS.

The diet

The diet is a very simple diet

1.Saturated fat should not exceed 15 grams per day.

2.Unsaturated fat (oils) should be kept to 20-50 grams per day.

3.No red meat for the first year. After the first year, 3 oz. of red meat is allowed once per week.

4.Dairy products must contain 1% or less butterfat unless otherwise noted. No processed foods containing saturated fat.

6.No processed foods containing saturated fat.

7. 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.

There are no restrictions on wheat,gluten or dairy, but any foods that that an ms sufferer is intolerant to should be avoided.

See also

• Diet (nutrition)
• Therapies for multiple sclerosis
• The Lancet

References

• "Effects of Low Saturated Fat Diets in Early and Late Cases of MS", Roy Laver Swank Barbara Brewer Dugan The Lancet July 7 1990 vol 336 pp 37-39
• Multiple Sclerosis Resource Center - The Swank Diet

External links

• Swank Diet Site
• MS-Direct website
• MS Nutrition discussion group
• Video Interview with Kendra Key, Swank MS Foundation Executive Director (youtube video)