To compare diet and the modified dietary inflammatory index (mDII) between individuals with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (PoMS), monophasic acquired demyelinating syndromes (monoADS), and controls.

The association between diet, mDII, and disease status was examined in 131 individuals with PoMS/monoADS/controls (38/45/48) using logistic regression.

The associations between diet and PoMS were modest, reaching significance for whole grain intake (adjusted odds ratio, aOR=0.964, 95 % confidence intervals, CI:0.934–0.995) but not mDII (aOR=1.20, 95 %CI:0.995–1.46) versus controls. No findings for monoADS reached significance versus controls.

Individuals with PoMS, but not monoADS, had lower dietary whole grain intake than controls.