A systematic review and meta‐analysis of nutrition interventions for chronic noncancer pain

Abstract

Background: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of nutrition interventions on participant reported pain severity and intensity in populations with chronic pain. Methods: Eight databases were systematically searched for studies that included adult populations with a chronic pain condition, a nutrition intervention and a measure of pain. Where possible, data were pooled using meta-analysis. Seventy-one studies were included, with 23 being eligible for meta-analysis. Results: Studies were categorised into four groups: (i) altered overall diet with 12 of 16 studies finding a significant reduction in participant reported pain; (ii) altered specific nutrients with two of five studies reporting a significant reduction in participant reported pain; (iii) supplement-based interventions with 11 of 46 studies showing a significant reduction in pain; and (iv) fasting therapy with one of four studies reporting a significant reduction in pain. The meta-analysis found that, overall, nutrition interventions had a significant effect on pain reduction with studies testing an altered overall diet or just one nutrient having the greatest effect. Conclusions: This review highlights the importance and effectiveness of nutrition interventions for people who experience chronic pain.198

A high fat anti-inflammatory diet improves widespread allodynia despite worsening metabolic outcomes in adult mice exposed to neonatal maternal separation

“…Our study was unique in that it included both naïve and stressed conditions, female and male mice, and quantities of anti-inflammatory compounds that are realistically attainable in the human diet (46). There is evidence that this type of dietary intervention may translate well to humans as a recent systematic review (47) found that nutritional interventions significantly reduced pain scores, although the specific interventions were varied and additional high-quality clinical trials are needed. The inclusion of both sexes in this study led to some interesting albeit expected sex differences.…”

Lifestyle and Chronic Pain across the Lifespan: An Inconvenient Truth?

“…Yet few treatment programs take diet or weight status into account, and treatment can be complicated . This is a shortcoming, as recent meta‐analysis confirmed that nutritional interventions, especially altered dietary pattern and altered specific nutrients, result in significant pain relief in people having chronic pain . Studies regarding dietary interventions in people having chronic pain are primarily in people with osteoarthritis and indicate a superiority of multimodal over single‐mode interventions.…”

Do Nutritional Factors Interact with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain? A Systematic Review

“…Dietary behaviour and dietary intake are lifestyle factors that might influence the occurrence, maintenance, and perception of chronic musculoskeletal pain [21][22][23]. For instance, overweight and obesity are suggested as two main associated factors of unhealthy dietary behaviour and are two main aspects of nutritional status in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain [24].…”