Differentiating Diet Approaches in Multiple Sclerosis: Mona Bostick, RDN, LDN, MSCS
The founder of MS Bites discussed the role dietitians can play in care of patients with MS, noting that they have not historically been included in the comprehensive care team, and differentiating their approaches to care. [WATCH TIME: 2 minutes]
WATCH TIME: 2 minutes
“I really root for dietitians to be included in the care team. It is my hope, though, that the dietitians that are included would be those that practice conventionally and that can guide on people how to safely move into alternative modalities, if that's something that is warranted.”
The role of diet in disease management for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has remained a topic of discussion within the field. While there is no therapeutic diet that has been proven to alter the course of MS, the way patients eat can have an impact on certain comorbidities; despite this understanding, nutrition is still often cast into the realm of ‘integrative’ approaches.
To discuss the importance of diet for this patient population, NeurologyLive® sat down with Mona Bostick, RDN, LDN, MSCS, founder of her private practice, MS Bites. Bostick noted that nutrition is a science contributing to overall health, and a lack of precise definition for integrative and alternative approaches leads to varying information from provider to provider. She also focused on the need to include registered dietitians in the comprehensive care model to provide input from conventionally practicing, science-based nutrition professionals and best care for patients. Once that perspective is more regularly available, Bostick said, it then creates an opportunity to guide patients through alternative treatments.
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