Central College’s Sara Shuger Fox, associate professor of kinesiology, and Joshua Cheek, a 2021 Central graduate and student at the Carver College of Medicine – University of Iowa, along with a team of six other researchers, have published an article in “Neurology.” The article, “Efficacy of Diet on Fatigue and Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Network of Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials,” assessed the efficacy of different dietary approaches on MS-related fatigue and quality of life. “Neurology” is the most widely read and highly cited peer-reviewed neurology journal.

The published results state that several interventions may reduce MS-fatigue and improve physical and mental quality of life for individuals with multiple sclerosis. Additional large-scale trials can now be conducted to confirm the findings.

The research team conducted 12 trials comparing eight dietary interventions (low-fat, Mediterranean, ketogenic, anti-inflammatory, Paleolithic, fasting, calorie restriction and a control usual diet) enrolling 608 participants in the primary analysis.

Co-author Tyler Titcomb, University of Iowa, discussed the research on a recent episode of the Neurology podcast.

Cheek worked as a summer research student with Shuger Fox for two years prior to graduation from Central. Shuger Fox, like other faculty at Central, conducts research with students to give them hands-on collaborative exploration opportunities as undergraduates.