Lifestyle showdown: can diet and exercise replace MS drugs?
NCT ID NCT04009005
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at whether a healthy lifestyle—including diet, stress reduction, and exercise—can control symptoms and improve quality of life for people newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) or its early stage, clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Researchers are comparing two groups: one using only lifestyle changes and another using standard disease-modifying drugs. The goal is to see if lifestyle alone is a good option for managing the disease.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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44 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2020
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 55 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 1\) A diagnosis of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) or CIS according to the 2010 McDonald's criteria, confirmed by the treating neurologist within 12 months of completing the first study visit. and having received a recommendation to begin disease modifying treatment (DMT)2) Must consent to sharing the clinical notes from their primary care and neurology providers during the study period.3) Must reside within the lower 48 states within the United States.4) Agreement by the treating neurologist that the patient may enroll in the study. Exclusion Criteria: 1\) Moderate or severe mental impairment as measured by the Short Portable Mental Health Questionnaire. 2) Taking insulin or Coumadin® medication. 3) History of oxalate kidney stones, schizophrenia, or active diagnosis of eating disorder. 4) Greater than 12 months since initial diagnosis of RRMS or CIS and first study visit.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa, 52246, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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