Studies
The Wahls lab at the University of Iowa has conducted 7 clinical trials and published over 60 peer-reviewed abstracts, posters, and scientific papers that have been cited over 1,500 times by other researchers. We present our research at international MS meetings and publish our papers in top-tier neurology journals. I don’t know of any other researcher who has a big hairy audacious goal of changing the standard of care so that all patients with MS, other autoimmune conditions, and complex chronic diseases are told as soon as they are diagnosed that it is vital to also address diet and lifestyle, regardless of whether they start disease-modifying drug treatments. We are committed to doing the research that is needed to change the standard of care.
2024
Recruiting: NCT05007483, Efficacy of Diet on Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis (EDQ)
Recruiting: NCT05057676, Autoimmune Intervention Mastery Course Study (AIM)
Not recruiting, analyzing data: NCT04009005, Clinically Isolated Syndrome and Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Not recruiting, analyzing data: NCT02914964, Clinically Isolated Syndrome and Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Not recruiting, analyzing data: NCT02914964, Dietary Approaches to Treat Multiple Sclerosis-Related Fatigue Study (Waves)
Not recruiting, analyzing data: NCT01915433, Wahls Paleo Diet and Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Not recruiting, analyzing data: NCT01381354, Nutrition, Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) and Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS)
2023
Diet-induced changes in functional disability are mediated by fatigue in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A secondary analysis of the WAVES randomized parallel-arm trial.
Clinical Trials Number: NCT02914964
Crippes LJ, Saxby SM, ShemiraniF,Bisht B, Gill C, Rubenstein LM, Ten Eyck P, Carr LJ, Darling WG, Hoth KF, Kamholz J, Snetselaar LG,Titcomb TJ, Wahls TL. Diet-induced changes in functional disability are mediated by fatigue in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A secondary analysis of the WAVES randomized parallel-arm trial. Mult Scler Exp Trans Clin. 2023 Oct 30;9(4):20552173231209147.doi: 10.1177/20552173231209147. eCollection 2023 Oct-Dec.
Association of serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 and mood following the Swank and Wahls elimination dietary interventions in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Secondary analysis of the WAVES trial - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT02914964
Shemirani F, Titcomb, T.; Saxby, S.; Ten Eyck, P, Rubenstien, L., Hoth, K., Snetselaar, L, Wahls, T.L. . Association of Serum Homocysteine, Folate, and Vitamin B12 and Mood Following the Swank and Wahls Elimination Dietary Interventions in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Secondary Analysis of the WAVES Trial. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders 2023 Jul:75:104743. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104743. Epub 2023 May 1. 30;9(4):20552173231209147.doi: 10.1177/20552173231209147. eCollection 2023 Oct-Dec.
Evaluation of a web-based program for the adoption of wellness behaviors to self-manage fatigue and improve quality of life among people with multiple sclerosis: A randomized waitlist-control trial - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT05057676
Titcomb TJ, Sherwood M, Ehlinger M, et al. (Wahls TL senior author).Evaluation of a web-based program for the adoption of wellness behaviors to self-manage fatigue and improve quality of life among people with multiple sclerosis: A randomized waitlist-control trial. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2023;77:104858.
Association of type 2 diabetes mellitus with dementia-related and non-dementia-related mortality among postmenopausal women: A secondary competing risks analysis of the women's health initiative - PubMed (nih.gov)
Titcomb TJ, Richey P, Casanova R, Wahls TL et al. Association of type 2 diabetes mellitus with dementia-related and non-dementia-related mortality among Postmenopausal women: A secondary competing risks analysis of the women’s health initiative. Alzheimers Dement. 2023 Aug 10. doi: 10.1002/alz.13416. Online ahead of print.
Comparison of the Ketogenic Ratio of Macronutrients With the Low-Carbohydrate Diet Score and Their Association With Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Postmenopausal Women: A Secondary Analysis of the Women's Health Initiative - PubMed (nih.gov)
Titcomb TJ, Liu B, Wahls TL, et al. Comparison of the Ketogenic Ratio of Macronutrients With the Low-Carbohydrate Diet Score and Their Association With Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Postmenopausal Women: A Secondary Analysis of the Women’s Health Initiative. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2023;123(8):1152-1161 e1154.
Efficacy of Diet on Fatigue and Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials - PubMed (nih.gov)
Snetselaar LG, Cheek JJ, Fox SS, et al. Efficacy of Diet on Fatigue and Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials. Neurology. 2023;100(4):e357-e366.
Read paper here.
Association of serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 and mood following the Swank and Wahls elimination dietary interventions in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Secondary analysis of the WAVES trial - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT02914964
Shemirani F, Titcomb TJ, Saxby SM, et al. (Wahls TL senior author). Association of serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B(12) and mood following the Swank and Wahls elimination dietary interventions in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Secondary analysis of the WAVES trial. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2023;75:104743.
Overview of diet and autoimmune demyelinating optic neuritis: a narrative review - PubMed (nih.gov)
Plafker SM, Titcomb T, Zyla-Jackson K, Kolakowska A, Wahls T. Overview of diet and autoimmune demyelinating optic neuritis: a narrative review. Immunometabolism (Cobham). 2023;5(2):e00022.
2022
Dietary Approaches to Treating Multiple Sclerosis-Related Symptoms - PubMed (nih.gov)
Wahls TL. Dietary Approaches to Treating Multiple Sclerosis-Related Symptoms. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2022;33(3):605-620.
Association between improved metabolic risk factors and perceived fatigue during dietary intervention trial in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A secondary analysis of the WAVES trial - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT02914964
Villa AT, Tu BH, Titcomb TJ, et al. (Wahls TL senior author). Association between improved metabolic risk factors and perceived fatigue during dietary intervention trial in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A secondary analysis of the WAVES trial. Front Neurol. 2022;13:1022728.
Comparison of the Ketogenic Ratio of Macronutrients With the Low-Carbohydrate Diet Score and Their Association With Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Postmenopausal Women: A Secondary Analysis of the Women's Health Initiative - PubMed (nih.gov)
Titcomb TJ, Liu B, Wahls TL, et al. Comparison of the Ketogenic Ratio of Macronutrients with the Low-Carbohydrate Diet Score and their Association with Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Postmenopausal Women: A Secondary Analysis of the Women’s Health Initiative. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2022.
Association of multiple sclerosis with risk of mortality among a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States - PubMed (nih.gov)
Titcomb TJ, Bao W, Du Y, Liu B, Snetselaar LG, Wahls TL. Association of multiple sclerosis with risk of mortality among a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2022;8(2):20552173221104009.
The Wahls Behavior Change Model for Complex Chronic Diseases: A Clinician's Guide - PubMed (nih.gov)
Elliott-Wherry AN, Lee JE, Pearlman AM, Wahls TL. The Wahls Behavior Change Model for Complex Chronic Diseases: A Clinician’s Guide. Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis. 2022;12:111-125.
Facilitators of and Barriers to Adherence to Dietary Interventions Perceived by Women With Multiple Sclerosis and Their Support Persons - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT02914964 and NT01381354
Dean C, Parks S, Titcomb TJ, et al. (Wahls TL senior author). Facilitators of and Barriers to Adherence to Dietary Interventions Perceived by Women With Multiple Sclerosis and Their Support Persons. Int J MS Care. 2022;24(5):235-241.
2021
Impact of the Swank and Wahls elimination dietary interventions on fatigue and quality of life in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: The WAVES randomized parallel-arm clinical trial - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT02914964
Wahls TL, Titcomb TJ, Bisht B, et al. Impact of the Swank and Wahls elimination dietary interventions on fatigue and quality of life in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: The WAVES randomized parallel-arm clinical trial. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2021;7(3):20552173211035399.
Patient Empowerment and the Exclusion of Dietary Intervention Studies. Comment on "Diet and Multiple Sclerosis: Scoping Review of Web-Based Recommendations" - PubMed (nih.gov)
Wahls T, Titcomb T, Bisht B, Ramanathan M. Patient Empowerment and the Exclusion of Dietary Intervention Studies. Comment on “Diet and Multiple Sclerosis: Scoping Review of Web-Based Recommendations”. Interact J Med Res. 2021;10(1):e17063.
Change in Micronutrient Intake among People with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Adapting the Swank and Wahls Diets: An Analysis of Weighed Food Records - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT02914964
Titcomb TJ, Brooks L, Smith KL, Ten Eyck P, Rubenstein LM, Wahls TL, et al. Change in Micronutrient Intake among People with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Adapting the Swank and Wahls Diets: An Analysis of Weighed Food Records. Nutrients. 2021;13(10).
A Modified MCT-Based Ketogenic Diet Increases Plasma β-Hydroxybutyrate but Has Less Effect on Fatigue and Quality of Life in People with Multiple Sclerosis Compared to a Modified Paleolithic Diet: A Waitlist-Controlled, Randomized Pilot Study - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT01915433
Lee JE, Titcomb TJ, Bisht B, Rubenstein LM, Louison R, Wahls TL. A Modified MCT-Based Ketogenic Diet Increases Plasma beta-Hydroxybutyrate but Has Less Effect on Fatigue and Quality of Life in People with Multiple Sclerosis Compared to a Modified Paleolithic Diet: A Waitlist-Controlled, Randomized Pilot Study. J Am Coll Nutr. 2021;40(1):13-25.
2020
Reversed phase UPLC/APCI-MS determination of Vitamin K1 and menaquinone-4 in human plasma: Application to a clinical study - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT01915433
Zhang Y, Chhonker YS, Bala V, et al. Reversed phase UPLC/APCI-MS determination of Vitamin K(1) and menaquinone-4 in human plasma: Application to a clinical study. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2020;183:113147.
Wahls TL. The Wahls Protocol A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions New York, New York, USA Penguin Random House 2020.
Wahls TL. The Wahls Protocol A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions New York, New York, USA Penguin Random House 2020.
2019
Lipid profile is associated with decreased fatigue in individuals with progressive multiple sclerosis following a diet-based intervention: Results from a pilot study - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT01381354
Fellows Maxwell K, Wahls T, Browne RW, et al. Lipid profile is associated with decreased fatigue in individuals with progressive multiple sclerosis following a diet-based intervention: Results from a pilot study. PLoS One. 2019;14(6):e0218075.
Nutrient Composition Comparison between a Modified Paleolithic Diet for Multiple Sclerosis and the Recommended Healthy U.S.-Style Eating Pattern - PubMed (nih.gov)
Chenard CA, Rubenstein LM, Snetselaar LG, Wahls TL. Nutrient Composition Comparison between a Modified Paleolithic Diet for Multiple Sclerosis and the Recommended Healthy U.S.-Style Eating Pattern. Nutrients. 2019;11(3
Nutrient Composition Comparison between the Low Saturated Fat Swank Diet for Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy U.S.-Style Eating Pattern - PubMed (nih.gov)
Chenard CA, Rubenstein LM, Snetselaar LG, Wahls TL. Nutrient Composition Comparison between the Low Saturated Fat Swank Diet for Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy U.S.-Style Eating Pattern. Nutrients. 2019;11(3).
2018
Dietary approaches to treat MS-related fatigue: comparing the modified Paleolithic (Wahls Elimination) and low saturated fat (Swank) diets on perceived fatigue in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT02914964
Wahls T, Scott MO, Alshare Z, et al. Dietary approaches to treat MS-related fatigue: comparing the modified Paleolithic (Wahls Elimination) and low saturated fat (Swank) diets on perceived fatigue in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2018;19(1):309.
2017
A Multimodal, Nonpharmacologic Intervention Improves Mood and Cognitive Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT01381354
Lee JE, Bisht B, Hall MJ, et al. A Multimodal, Nonpharmacologic Intervention Improves Mood and Cognitive Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis. J Am Coll Nutr. 2017;36(3):150-168.
Randomized control trial evaluation of a modified Paleolithic dietary intervention in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a pilot study - PubMed (nih.gov)
Irish AK, Erickson CM, Wahls TL, Snetselaar LG, Darling WG. Randomized control trial evaluation of a modified Paleolithic dietary intervention in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis. 2017;7:1-18.
Effects of a multimodal intervention on gait and balance of subjects with progressive multiple sclerosis: a prospective longitudinal pilot study - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT01381354
Bisht B, Darling WG, White EC, et al. Effects of a multimodal intervention on gait and balance of subjects with progressive multiple sclerosis: a prospective longitudinal pilot study. Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis. 2017;7:79-93.
2015
Multimodal intervention improves fatigue and quality of life in subjects with progressive multiple sclerosis: a pilot study - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trials Number: NCT01381354
Bisht B, Darling WG, Shivapour ET, et al. Multimodal intervention improves fatigue and quality of life in subjects with progressive multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis. 2015;5:19-35.
2014
TL W. The Wahls Protocol How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine New York, New York, USA Penguin Random House 2014
TL W. The Wahls Protocol How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine New York, New York, USA Penguin Random House 2014
Assessment of dietary adequacy for important brain micronutrients in patients presenting to a traumatic brain injury clinic for evaluation - PubMed (nih.gov)
Wahls T, Rubenstein L, Hall M, Snetselaar L. Assessment of dietary adequacy for important brain micronutrients in patients presenting to a traumatic brain injury clinic for evaluation. Nutr Neurosci. 2014;17(6):252-259.
A multimodal intervention for patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: feasibility and effect on fatigue - PubMed (nih.gov)
Clinical Trial Number: NCT01381354
Bisht B, Darling WG, Grossmann RE, et al. A multimodal intervention for patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: feasibility and effect on fatigue. J Altern Complement Med. 2014;20(5):347-355.
2011
The seventy percent solution - PubMed (nih.gov)
Wahls TL. The seventy percent solution. J Gen Intern Med. 2011;26(10):1215-1216.
2009
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and dietary interventions to reduce oxidative stress in a secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patient leads to marked gains in function: a case report - PubMed (nih.gov)
Reese D, Shivapour ET, Wahls TL, Dudley-Javoroski SD, Shields R. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and dietary interventions to reduce oxidative stress in a secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patient leads to marked gains in function: a case report. Cases J. 2009;2:7601.
2008
Telling the world - PubMed (nih.gov)
Dr. Terry Wahls Research Fund
By Donating To The Dr. Terry Wahls Research Fund, You Will Help Support:
- Diet and lifestyle research in the setting of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other complex chronic disease states.
- New investigations into other disease states, including fibromyalgia and post-acute coronavirus sequelae, also known as long covid.
- Grant applications to fund research on our interventions in the setting of progressive multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, and persisting fatigue following cancer treatment.
How You Can Help:
Become part of the team that will answer important questions about the impact of diet and lifestyle and the mechanisms by which changes in diet and lifestyle lead to reduced symptoms and improved function.
The University of Iowa Center for Advancement is a non-profit organization on the University of Iowa campus that solicits private, tax-deductible contributions for all areas of the university, including the diet and lifestyle research of Dr. Terry Wahls.
The University of Iowa acknowledges the UI Center for Advancement as the preferred channel for private contributions that benefit all areas of the university. When donating to the Dr. Terry Wahls Research Fund, you will receive a thank you letter and receipt for tax purposes from the University of Iowa Center for Advancement. You will be helping Dr. Wahls and her team conduct more innovative studies that can change the standard of medical care. Thank you for your support!
Have you thought about hosting your own event to raise awareness and funds for the Dr. Terry Wahls Research Fund?
The University of Iowa Center for Advancement has assembled a PDF guide for hosting third-party events that raise funds to support the research of Dr. Wahls and her lab.Contact the University of Iowa Center for Advancement Development team to learn more about Dr. Wahls’ innovative research by reaching out to Robert.King@foriowa.org (319) 467-3788