Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40964911›Full record

ArticlePublic health nutrition2025

Examination of social media nutrition information related to multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional social network analysis.

Yasmine Probst, Emiliana Saffioti, Sarah Manche, Melissa Eaton

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Public health nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Yasmine ProbstSchool of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW2522, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1971-173X
Emiliana SaffiotiSchool of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW2522, Australia.
Sarah MancheSchool of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW2522, Australia.
Melissa EatonSchool of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW2522, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, auto-immune, neurodegenerative condition with increasing global prevalence. People living with MS (plwMS) have reported limited guidance relating to nutrition information. Paired with varied health literacy levels, this makes plwMS susceptible to nutrition misinformation.

designA cross-sectional online social network analysis (SNA) examining nutrition information for MS.

settingA systematic SNA using Twitter/X and YouTube platforms using NodeXL to summarise metrics. Quality was assessed using the QUEST tool. Content analysis of YouTube videos was synthesised into themes for misinformation.

participantsOnline publicly available social media user posts and video content.

resultsTwitter/X SNA revealed keywords used most by an account representing 72·8 % of the user network with common diet mentions including Wahls (57 times), paleo (15 times) and ketogenic (11 times). 'Favourite count' metrics were strongly correlated with 'repost count' (r = 0·83,

conclusionsNutrition misinformation for MS occurs on social media and information quality is variable. Audiences need to be cautioned about users with large followings and evaluate the credibility of all information. This study reiterates the importance of evidence-based information for the MS community.

Indexed as

Consumer Health InformationMultiple SclerosisSocial MediaSocial Network AnalysisCross-Sectional StudiesDietHealth LiteracyHumansMultiple sclerosisNutrition informationOnlineSocial media

Identifiers

PMID40964911
PMCPMC12722084

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.