Dietary intake of calcium, magnesium and antioxidants in relation to risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Dietary factors have long been suspected of being risk factors for amyotrop hic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but few human studies have been reported. To a ddress several of the dietary hypotheses, a case-control study of risk fact ors for ALS conducted in New England in 1993-1996 included an abbreviated f ood frequency questionnaire. We examined the dietary intake of calcium, mag nesium and antioxidants among 107 ALS cases and 262 community controls. Ove rall, these dietary factors were not related to risk of ALS, though modestl y protective associations were suggested for magnesium and lycopene. Copyri ght (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.