2. Sodium Toxicity and Demyelination
Axon degeneration in the CNS can be caused by injury, toxins, and genetic defects
[28][9]. Bechtold and Smith
[29][10] reviewed early studies of inflammatory demyelinating disease and reported that sodium ions can accumulate in axons, disturb axonal sodium ion homeostasis, and cause axonal degeneration. The authors described how the magnitude of degeneration in axons in patients with MS is correlated with the degree of neuroinflammation in demyelinating axonal lesions, which the authors attributed to potentially harmful concentrations of sodium.
The Nav 1.6 voltage-gated sodium channel is associated with increased neuroinflammation and axonal degeneration in genetically altered C57BL/6 mice in the EAE model of MS
[30][11]. Additionally, neuroinflammation and axonal degeneration were reduced in an EAE model when dark agouti male rats were treated with the sodium channel blocker flecainide
[31][12]. However, subsequent EAE studies found that treatment withdrawal of the sodium channel blockers phenytoin and carbamazepine in diseased C57BL/6 mice exacerbated symptoms and increased risk of death compared with healthy controls
[32][13]. Another study found that tailored withdrawal of phenytoin in the EAE model prevented deaths in diseased C57BL/6 mice, but symptoms neared non-treatment levels
[33][14].
Related to this, osmotic demyelination syndrome in humans, which affects the central pontine and extrapontine regions of the brain, is caused by rapid saline infusion in the clinical correction of hyponatremia
[34][15]. Moreover, an early study of MRI revealed that demyelination of the central pontine occurs in several conditions, including MS
[35][16], further implying an association between MS and sodium toxicity.
Recent research has discovered novel roles for lipid phase properties of myelin in the etiology and recovery from MS
[36][17]. Beck and Shaharabani described the structure and function of the myelin sheath as a multilamellar complex composed of different types of proteins and lipids which circumscribe axons and preserve nerve conduction integrity by providing a layer of insulation
[36][17]. The researchers also described how myelin’s structure is undermined and its function is impaired in MS.
Biological membrane characteristics are determined by the distinctive organization of proteins and/or lipids, which can transition between a lamellar lipid phase, with cylinder shapes that add no curvature strain within the membrane, and hexagonal lipid phases including inverted-cone shapes (H
II phase) that induce a positive curvature strain within the membrane
[37][18]. Beck and Shaharabani reported pathological phase transitions in the multiple membrane (multilamellar) stacked structure of myelin sheaths in MS, correlated with small variations in myelin lipid composition and reduced adhesiveness in myelin basic protein (MBP)
[36][17].
Figure 1 shows in vitro and in vivo examples of normal myelin and myelin with structural instabilities caused by lipid phase transitions. The researchers noted that ion-specific structural instabilities are increased by elevated salinity (saltiness) and temperature, which change normal lamellar stacks to a disrupted inverted hexagonal phase.
Figure 1. Normal myelin sheath membrane, in vitro and in vivo, and myelin with structural instabilities due to lipid phase transition, in vitro and in vivo [38]. Normal myelin sheath membrane, in vitro and in vivo, and myelin with structural instabilities due to lipid phase transition, in vitro and in vivo [19].
3. Salt-Related Inflammatory and Immune Responses in MS
This section briefly reviews several inflammatory and immune responses associated with dietary sodium and MS. Proinflammatory cytokines released from activated T cells, especially interleukin 17 (IL-17) induced by Th17 cells, are associated with disease activity in patients with MS
[50][20]. Of relevance, increased sodium chloride concentrations under physiological conditions significantly enhanced induction of Th17 cells in male C57BL/6J mice and in blood samples from healthy humans
[13][21]. Demyelinated lesions in the CNS are also infiltrated with increased levels of macrophages and T cells in people with MS, and blood levels of monocytes are increased
[8]. Related to this, infiltration of macrophages in the CNS and levels of monocytes in the blood of healthy people increased with exposure to a high-salt diet
[51][22]. When sodium levels were lowered in healthy people, proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-23 were reduced, whereas levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 increased.
A high-salt diet in EAE-diseased C57BL/6 mice also elevated CNS levels of macrophages and proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-12, IL-23, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)
[52][23]. Additionally, a high-salt diet in male NSG immunodeficient mice reduced immunosuppressive function of forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3+) T regulatory cells (Tregs) and increased interferon gamma (IFNγ)
[53][24], a cytokine associated with neuroinflammation in MS
[54][25].
4. MS Comorbidities Potentially Mediated by Sodium Toxicity
4.1. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and MS
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has rarely been reported to coexist in patients with MS, and differential diagnosis between the two diseases is often difficult
[55][26]. Yet, both diseases have similar immune responses to salt intake
[48][27], suggesting shared etiologies. For example, a high-salt diet in a murine model of SLE increased lupus nephritis progression and mortality, and a high-salt diet also upregulated Th17 cells in MRL/lpr mice
[56][28].
4.2. Rheumatic Arthritis and MS
Self-reported rheumatic or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was found to have a dose-dependent relationship with daily sodium intake in a case–control study in Spain
[57][29]. Moreover, a nationwide retrospective cohort study in Taiwan found that patients diagnosed with MS had a higher subsequent diagnosis of RA compared to controls
[58][30]. Patients with early RA were also found to have significantly higher sodium excretion than controls, even after controlling for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hypertension drugs, and smoking status
[59][31]. Recently, a high urinary sodium-potassium ratio was associated with RA disease activity in patients, which the researchers suggested was linked to high sodium intake and low potassium intake
[60][32]. Taken together, these findings provide supporting evidence that high sodium intake mediates the association of MS with RA.
4.3. Heart Failure and MS
A Danish cohort study found that patients with MS had an increased risk of heart failure compared to the general population
[61][33], and an increased risk of heart failure associated with MS was confirmed in a recent systematic review and meta-analysis
[62][34]. Coincidently, another recent study using
23Na MRI reported that patients with heart failure have extremely high levels of tissue sodium storage
[63][35], inferring that increased risk of heart failure in patients with MS could be associated with high tissue sodium storage.
4.4. Inflammatory Bowel Disease and MS
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, has been associated with a high-salt diet which induced gastrointestinal responses including “production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by intestinal mononuclear cells”
[48][27] in eight-week-old female Balb/c mice
[64][36] and eight-to-10-week-old female C57BL/6 mice
[65][37]. Furthermore, a recently published systematic review and meta-analysis found that risk of IBD in patients with MS was higher than in controls
[66][38], inferring that increased risk of IBD in MS could be associated with high salt consumption.
4.5. Ischemic Stroke and MS
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found that people with MS have an increased risk of developing all types of stroke, especially ischemic stroke, compared to the general population
[67][39]. A high-salt diet is a risk factor for acute ischemic disease
[68][40], and salt restriction is an accepted lifestyle intervention in stroke prevention
[69][41], implying that increased risk of ischemic stroke in MS is likely associated with high sodium concentrations.
4.6. Hypertension and MS
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the most common risk factor for stroke
[70][42], and hypertension’s close relationship with dietary salt intake is well established
[71][43]. In a case–control study, U.S. patients with MS were 48% more likely to have had hypertension than a control group
[72][44]. A retrospective cohort study found that higher systolic blood pressure was associated with progressively worse MS-related disabilities
[73][45]. A large cross-sectional study that examined 37 million electronic health records from across the United States found that hypertension was 25% more common in the MS population compared to the rest of the population. Similar to MS, hypertension is also associated with inflammatory and immune responses to high dietary salt
[74[46][47],
75], further implying sodium toxicity as a common causative factor.
4.7. Migraine, Non-Specific Low Back Pain, and MS
The prevalence of primary headache among MS patients is higher than in the general population, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of global studies
[76][48]. Migraine headaches in particular are often comorbid with MS
[77][49], and evidence suggests that sodium chloride intake is associated with migraine headache pain
[78][50]. Sodium chloride intake is also associated with posterior lumbar subcutaneous edema in non-specific low back pain
[79][51]. Coincidently, a recent study of the French MS population found that the prevalence of lower back pain is two to three times higher than in the general population
[80][52].
4.8. Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Anxiety, and MS
Patients with MS have a higher predisposition for obstructive sleep apnea compared to patients without MS
[81][53]. Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with sodium chloride intake as fluid overload is redistributed toward the upper body
[82][54]. Salt also increases anxiety by triggering the action of angiotensin II which facilitates the release of “fight or flight” adrenal catecholamines from the sympathetic nervous system
[82][54]. Of relevance, MS patients in a Canadian population have a 28.7% prevalence rate of anxiety disorders, self-rated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, which is higher than the prevalence of anxiety reported in the general population
[83][55].
4.9. Menstrual Disorders and MS
MS incidence is uncommon in people past ages 50 and 60 years
[84][56]—the approximate ages of menopause and post menopause in women—and MS incidence is highest in females during childbearing years
[85][57], although onset of the disease temporarily drops during the third trimester of pregnancy
[86][58]. MS is also associated with a high prevalence of menstrual disorders
[87[59][60],
88], and menstrual disorders are associated with fluid overload
[89][61], potentially related to increased interstitial sodium storage
[11][62]. In the EAE model of MS, dietary salt worsened the disease only in female mice of the SJL/JCrHsd strain
[90][63], suggesting involvement of sex-specific genetic factors. MS in human females is also associated with reproductive hormones
[91][64] and with higher sodium sensitivity
[11][62]. More research is needed to examine the relationship between menstrual disorders and greater exposure to sodium toxicity in MS.
Evidence implicating MS and comorbidities with sodium toxicity and other environmental factors challenges the prevailing concept of autoimmunity in MS
[1] and in other related diseases including type I diabetes mellitus, Guillain-Barr syndrome, and myasthenia gravis
[92][65]. Future directions in basic, epidemiological, and clinical research should continue to investigate etiological and epigenetic effects of sodium toxicity in MS and related comorbidities. Furthermore, lifestyle preventative measures should be investigated to modify dietary salt intake. Low-salt diet trials may show improvements in MS and comorbid conditions. However, separate trials should be conducted to directly link low salt as a causative factor in the pathogenesis of conditions comorbid with MS.