Table 5.

Characteristics of study participants.

Characteristics	Controls (n = 140)	MS (n = 142)
Gender
Male	51 (36%)	67 (47%)
Female	89 (64%)	75 (53%)
Age (mean ± SD)	45 ± 12	53 ± 14
BMI (kg/m2)
Underweight (≤ 18.5)	22.2 ± 2.45	19.45 ± 4.67
Normal weight (18.5–24.9)
Overweight (25–29.9)
Obesity (≥ 30)
Mean disease duration (years)	N/A	14.5 ± 8.1
EDSS
From normal to mid disability (1.0–4.5)	N/A	5.5. ± 1.9
From moderate to severe disability (5.0–9.5)
Death due to MS (10.0)
MMSE
Normal (25–30)	N/A	23.79 ± 6
Mild impairment (21–24)
Moderate impairment (10–20)
Severe impairment (≤ 9)
BDI
Normal (≤ 9)	N/A	10 ± 4
Minimal depressive symptomatology (10–15)
Mild depression (16–31)
Moderate depression (32–47)
Severe depression (≥ 47)
GDS
Normal (0–4)	N/A	7.5 ± 4.56
Mild depression (5–8)
Moderate depression (9–11)
Severe depression (12–15)

N/A not applicable.