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Swank diet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Swank Diet is a diet that is low in saturated fat, which was proposed in 1949 by Roy Laver Swank (1909–2008), academic neurologist at the University of Oregon, for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.[1]

The claims made for the diet are unsubstantiated.[1][2]

The diet

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According to the Swank diet web site, the diet consists of:

  1. Saturated fat should not exceed 15 grams per day
  2. Unsaturated fat (oils) should be kept to 20–50 grams per day
  3. No red meat for the first year; after that, a maximum of 3 oz (85 g) of red meat per week
  4. Dairy products must contain 1% or less butterfat
  5. No processed foods containing saturated fat
  6. A good source of omega-3 (oily fish, Flaxseed, cod liver oil, cod liver oil tablets, etc.) along with a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement are recommended daily
  7. Wheat, gluten or dairy product quantities are not restricted[3]

Swank claimed that the diet could "slow progression of the disease as well as benefit overall health".[4]

Effectiveness

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There is no good medical evidence supporting the use of the Swank or any alternative diet for the treatment of MS.[2][1] The British Dietetic Association does not recommend the Swank diet, or any other alternative diet, for people with multiple sclerosis.[2]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 Parks NE, Jackson-Tarlton CS, Vacchi L, Merdad R, Johnston BC (19 May 2020). "Dietary interventions for multiple sclerosis-related outcomes". Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 (5) CD004192. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004192.pub4. PMC 7388136. PMID 32428983. ... at present, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether supplementation with antioxidants or other dietary interventions have any impact on MS-related outcomes.
  2. 1 2 3 "Policy Statement—Use of Alternative Diets and Supplementation in the Management of Multiple Sclerosis". British Dietetic Association. 2015. p. 2. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "The Diet". swankmsdiet.org. Swank MS Foundation. Retrieved 15 September 2016.[self-published source?]
  4. ↑ "Swank MS Foundation: For Your Health, For Your Future". swankmsdiet.org. Swank MS Foundation. Retrieved 15 September 2016.[self-published source?]