title: Association of Expanded Disability Status Scale and Cytokines after Intervention with Co-supplemented Hemp Seed, Evening Primrose Oils and Hot-natured Diet in Multiple Sclerosis Patients(♦).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Because of limited efficacy and adverse side effects, identifying novel therapeutic and protective agents is important. The aim of this study is to examine the correlations between expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and cytokines after intervention with co-supplemented hemp seed and evening primrose oils and hot-natured diet in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied a group of 23 patients with clinically definite RRMS, with EDSS<6 who received co-supplemented hemp seed and evening primrose oils with advising hot-natured diet. Clinically EDSS and immunological factors (plasma cytokines of IL-4, IFN-γ and IL-17) were assessed at baseline and after 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up was 180±2.9 days (N=23, 7 Male and 16 Females aged 25.0±7.5 years with disease duration 6.26±3.9 years). After 6 months, significant improvements in extended disability status score were found in the patients in agreement with decrease cytokines of IFN-γ and IL-17 and increase cytokines of IL-4. Clinical and immunological parameters showed improvement in the patients after the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that co-supplemented hemp seed and evening primrose oils with hot-natured diet can have beneficial effects in improving clinical symptoms in relapsing remitting MS patients and significant correlation was found between EDSS and immunological findings.
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran ; School of Nutrition and Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rezapour-Firouzi
authors.forename: Seyed Rafie
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Arefhosseini
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farhoudi
authors.forename: Mehrangiz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi-Mamaghani
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rashidi
authors.forename: Mohammad-Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Torbati
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baradaran
keywords: Cannabis sativa L.; Evening Primrose; Hemp seed; Hot-natured Diet; Inflammation; Multiple Sclerosis; Oenothera biennis L.; Therapy