JULY 10, 2018 BY STACY GRIEVE, PHD
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Getting plenty of sun, eating fresh fruits regularly and drinking coffee daily are associated with a lower risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) among adults in Saudi Arabia — while eating a lot of fast-food raises that risk, researchers report.
Their study, “Environmental exposures and the risk of multiple sclerosis in Saudi Arabia,” was recently published in the journal BMC Neurology.
Previous studies show mixed results concerning the prevalence of MS across the Gulf region. It is estimated to be high in Saudi Arabia, but the risk factors associated with the disease there remain unclear.
Researchers conducted a case-control study involving 307 MS patients and 307 matched healthy adults in three Saudi Arabian cities — Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.
To evaluate different environmental risk factors, the team used a structured questionnaire focused on demographics, family history of MS, medical history, sun exposure levels, parental consanguinity, smoking habits, diet, obesity, coffee consumption, among other factors.
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