Experts have criticised claims that a popular diet trend endorsed by celebrities could increase the risk of fatal motor neurone disease (MND).
The 5:2 method, made famous by beloved TV diet guru and Daily Mail columnist Dr Michael Mosley, has long been touted for its ability to improve blood sugar levels and boost brain function.
But a molecular biologist said this week that following the regimen disrupted energy metabolism in her nerve cells, causing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of ALS.
According to Dr Vivienne Cox, 65, her old diet, high in sugar and carbohydrates, compensated for this energy deficit.
However, scientists warn that there is little evidence to support these claims and that research currently shows no link.
A molecular biologist said this week that following the regime disrupted the energy metabolism in her nerve cells, triggering the condition. Dr Vivienne Cox, 65, said her old diet, high in sugar and carbohydrates, compensated for these energy deficits
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ALS, or “locked in” syndrome, can lead to paralysis and eventually death.
It took the life of Sandra Bullock’s partner Bryan Randall last year and was made famous by the renowned scientist Stephen Hawking.
Dr. Cox said The Telegraph: ‘Until I was fifty, I lived a carefree and luxurious life, enjoying good food, drink and sweets.
‘I was reasonably fit, I lived a lot outdoors, with gardening and walking in nature being my main activities.
‘Then Michael Mosley’s intermittent fasting idea became the fad diet of the time. I had gained some weight, so I enthusiastically signed up for the 5:2 diet.
‘I lost a stone straight away and felt pretty good. I cut out refined sugar and limited carbs.’
People following the 5:2 diet restrict their calorie intake to 500 to 600 calories per day two days a week. The other five days they eat normally.
But within two years of starting the diet, she claimed she had developed a “lopsided gait” and “broken a few bones, causing her to keep tripping over her right foot.”
ALS or ‘locked in’ syndrome can lead to paralysis and eventually death. It was made famous by the acclaimed scientist Stephen Hawking
ALS also claimed the life of Sandra Bullock’s partner Bryan Randall last year (pictured with Sandra Bullock in 2018)
According to Dr. Cox, who worked at two major pharmaceutical companies, her ALS may have developed more quickly because restricting food intake could disrupt energy metabolism in cells.
She added: ‘Now, at 64, I am in a wheelchair with a diagnosis of motor neurone disease.
‘As a scientist, I have been looking into what could be the trigger for the development of the disease, while I have been carrying this mutation since birth. I strongly suspect that intermittent fasting is the culprit.’
However, Prof Sir John Hardy, professor of neuroscience at University College London, refuted Dr Cox’s claim, telling MailOnline: ‘Anecdotal reports such as this do not constitute evidence.’
The Motor Neurone Disease Association does not recognize a link between diet and the development of ALS.
However, the organization does state that studies have shown a possible link between ALS and heavy exercise, exposure to agricultural chemicals and various heavy metals.
But this evidence ‘is often contradictory and no clear conclusions can be drawn’.
With these limits, it is ‘not yet possible to provide guidelines on how to reduce the risk of developing ALS’, the charity said.
Very limited animal research suggests there may be a link between intermittent fasting and the development of ALS.
A 2004 study in 14 mice found that mice fed a low-calorie diet developed clinical symptoms earlier than mice not on a diet.
Writing in the diary Muscles and nervesResearchers said: ‘These results suggest that a calorie-restricted diet is not a protective strategy for patients with ALS (the most common form of MDN) and is therefore contraindicated.’
There are currently no human studies conducted on the effects of intermittent fasting on ALS.
Dr. Mosley first learned about the 5:2 diet through a 2011 study and it formed the basis for his 2013 book The Fast Diet.
Dr. Mosley said on the diet’s website that people who follow it can lose about 1 pound (0.5 kg) per week and experience health benefits including improved blood pressure, cholesterol levels and insulin sensitivity.
The health guru even found personal success with the 5:2 diet when he reversed his type 2 diabetes.
Animal studies have also shown that it can boost the regenerative capabilities of stem cells, fight cancer and even extend lifespan.
But despite the many studies suggesting it works, experts are divided over the effectiveness of intermittent fasting and its potential long-term health effects.
Jennifer Aniston, Chris Pratt and Kourtney Kardashian are among the Hollywood A-listers who have jumped on the trend since it broke in the early 2010s. But despite plenty of research suggesting it works, experts are divided over its effectiveness and potential long-term health effects.
Some argue that fasters typically consume a relatively large amount of food at one time, meaning they don’t restrict their calorie intake—a known way to combat obesity.
They even have warning that it may increase the risk of strokes or heart attacks.
ALS is a rare condition in which parts of the nervous system are gradually damaged.
It occurs when specialized nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, called motor neurons, stop working properly. This is also called neurodegeneration.
The life expectancy of about half of people with this condition is only two to five years from the onset of symptoms.
However, some people can live up to 10 years, and in rare cases even longer.
In the UK, approximately 5,000 people and in the US 30,000 people suffer from this condition.
Locked-in syndrome (LIS) is a rare neurological disorder that can also occur in some progressive cases of ALS.