Additionally, researchers found that diets high in lycopene, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and vitamin C did not affect ALS risk.  Long-term vitamin C supplement intake was also not associated with ALS risk.

Authors conclude their findings suggest that consuming carotenoid-rich foods may help to prevent or delay the onset of ALS.  Further research that incorporates food-based analyses is needed to determine possible dietary characteristics associated with ALS prevention.

RESOURCES:

Fitzgerald KC, O’Reilly EJ, et al.  Intakes of Vitamin C and Carotenoids and Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis:Pooled Results from 5 Cohort Studies. Annals of Neurology; Published Online: January 29, 2013 (DOI:10.1002/ana.23820).

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fact Sheet - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - Genetics Home Reference, National Library of Medicine (NLM)

What is ALS? - The ALS Association

National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Registry - Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC)

Lisa Emrich is author of the blog Brass and Ivory: Life with MS and RA and founder of the Carnival of MS Bloggers.