Effect of anti-inflammatory diets based on complementary and alternative medicine in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The role of diet in modulating inflammation has garnered attention, particularly regarding anti-inflammatory dietary interventions rooted in complementary medicine. The present study examined the clinical manifestations through which anti-inflammatory diets may influence MS, providing insights for clinician researchers. METHODS: A thorough search was performed in Scopus, MEDLINE (PubMed), ScienceDirect, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Central Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science, covering trials published until December 2025. Random-effects models were used to analyze the quantitative data through STATA(14). RESULTS: After analyzing 246 entries, we found 10 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) with a total of 332 participants, who had an average disease duration of 8.7 years. The combined effect size revealed a decrease in fatigue severity (Weighted Mean Difference WMD = -7.10; 95% Confidence Interval CI = -13.61, -0.59; P = 0.032) and an increase in physical health score (WMD = 2.59; 95% Confidence Interval CI = 0.17, 5.00; P = 0.036). CONCLUSION: Anti-inflammatory diets may improve MS clinical manifestations, especially fatigue and disability; therefore, more research is needed to confirm the present findings.