WINETECH Technical Yearbook 2019

ALTERNATIVE THEORY FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

SUSAN JANSE VAN RENSBURG 1 , DAWIE VAN VELDEN 1 , COENIE HATTINGH 1 , MERLISA KEMP 2 , MARIAAN JAFTHA 2 , CLINT JOHANNES 1 , PENELOPE ENGEL-HILLS 2 & MARITHA KOTZE 1 : 1 Department of Health Science, Stellenbosch University, 2 Cape Peninsula University of Technology KEYWORDS: Multiple sclerosis, Mediterranean diet, moderate consumption of red wine. OCTOBER 2019

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is generally considered to be an autoimmune disease which invariably results in disability. Recently the autoimmune theory has been criticised, in view of the fact that a specific diagnostic ant i gen has never been found that would be able to activate the immune cells (in other words there is no blood test for MS as is the case with other autoimmune diseases) (Van Rensburg et al ., 2019). If the autoimmune theory is unproven, which alternative theory may be suggested, and could there be a way to arrest disability in MS, or even turn it around? Researchers have found that lifestyle factors are involved in disability related to MS. When brain cells are maintained through

nutrients and health-related factors, such as a Mediterranean diet, which includes moderate consumption of red wine, combined with exercise, disability may be overcome. The autoimmune theory contends that activated immune cells attack the sheath (myelin) of the nerve fibres (axons), which results in interruptions in signal transduction from the brain to the body (Hohlfeld, 2010). The inability to arrest disability from the theoretical framework of the autoimmune theory has inspired researchers to suggest an alternative theory. The clinical photo of MS looks a lot like load shedding. The symptoms start for example with double vision or blindness, which clears up after

cortisone treatment, whereafter a temporary paralysis in an arm or a leg may occur. Then it may manifest in bladder problems or balance. At the same time, white lesions appear in the brain or spinal cord which are visible through magnetic resonance (MRI) (Polman et al ., 2010). These lesions are an indication of cells that have died, and cause an inflammatory reaction. General death of cells further causes the brain to shrink at 0.7% per annum, compared to a 0.1% shrinkage due to ageing. This is a serious matter, since it may result in disability and consequently it is important to determine the cause and to find ways of arresting cell loss and disability in MS, or even turn it around. The medications that are

Karen Nortje. MS diagnosis in 2006. Part of MS program since 2006. Ran the Two Oceans Halfmarathon in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Cape Town Marathon in 2018. Completed Two Oceans Ultramarathon in 2019.