Adherence to Mediterranean Diet Negatively Correlated to Severity of Fibromyalgia

by | May 7, 2024 | 2024, Fibromyalgia, Mediterranean Diet, Recent Articles

Written by Chrystal Moulton, Science Writer. Regression analysis showed a significant negative correlation between adherence to the Mediterranean diet [PREDIMED-14] and severity of fibromyalgia [FIQR scores] and PREDIMED-14 scores and level of pain [NRS scores] (P= 0.0216 and P= 0.0018, respectively).

Mediterranean DietFibromyalgia is a central disorder where processing of painful and non-painful stimuli is altered1,2. Individuals suffering with this disorder are diagnosed with persistent pain in all quadrants of the body lasting more than three months. They are also diagnosed when pain is present in 11 out of 18 specific tender points in the body3. Patients are usually treated with a combination of drugs and alternative treatments4. However, very little is understood about the best ways to treat individuals living with this disorder. In the current trial, researchers conducted a questionnaire-based study to understand possible correlation between various lifestyle factors and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in correlation with the severity of fibromyalgia in diagnosed individuals5.

The current trial was an observational descriptive study. No healthy comparison group was needed for this study. Surveys were sent to 280 addresses and participants were expected to check off inclusion/exclusion criteria to participate in the survey. Individuals were excluded if they were pregnant or breastfeeding, had any psychotic disorders, or had any alcohol or substance abuse behaviors. Individuals were included if they were age 18 years or older with confirmed diagnosis of fibromyalgia. In the first section of the survey demographic data was collected on each qualifying individual. Researchers then collected information related to the type of pain experienced [Pain Detect questionnaire, PD-Q], pain intensity [Numerical Rating Scale, NRS scale], psychological well-being [Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale- 21 items, DASS-21], severity of fibromyalgia [Revised Fibromyalgia Questionnaire, FIQR], and adherence to a Mediterranean diet [PREDIMED-14, a reduced questionnaire based on the PREDIMED study]. A correlational analysis was conducted using the information provided by the survey. Possible confounders were analyzed against the results to determine any causal links.

Of the 280 surveys sent, 186 answers were received. Among those who answered, 74% were primarily female with higher degrees of education and 46% of participants reported having a sedentary lifestyle. The median age of participants was 56 years old and median BMI was 25.6. Overall, these individuals were suffering from fibromyalgia for about 11 years. The average pain intensity was 6.9 ±2 on a scale of 0 to 10 and the most common type of pain was pressure pain. This data is consistent in pain processing patterns of central disorder. The most frequent symptoms reported were fatigue (84.4%), brain fog (80.1%), and sleep disturbance (78.5%). The research also showed that depression, anxiety, and stress were related to fibromyalgia. 63.9% of participants scored high on the fibromyalgia severity survey. Among them, 75% experienced impaired physical function, whether perceived or actual, as a daily life experience. Although participants acknowledge the importance of diet after their diagnosis, only 49% changed their diet habits. The dietary survey revealed that regarding the Mediterranean diet, the participants adhered to the daily servings of red meat, sugary drinks, and other fat sources besides extra virgin olive oil. However, the respondents had low consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables and only 29% of participants used extra virgin olive oil in meal preparation. Results from the correlational analysis showed that BMI was negatively correlated with PREDIMED-14 scores (P < 0.05). This indicated that high adherence to the Mediterranean diet was correlated to lower BMI. Furthermore, regression analysis, which included confounders (expressed as a propensity score), showed a significant negative correlation between adherence to the Mediterranean diet [PREDIMED-14] and severity of fibromyalgia [FIQR scores] and PREDIMED-14 scores and level of pain [NRS scores] (P= 0.0216 and P= 0.0018, respectively).

Overall, the data demonstrated that poor adherence to the Mediterranean diet (using a scaled down version of the Mediterranean diet from the PREDIMED study) was significantly correlated with worsening fibromyalgia symptoms and increased pain intensity. Additional studies will be needed to assess specific dietary impacts on fibromyalgia status.

Source: Proietti, Elisa, Fabio Rapallo, Elena Molinari, Viviana Mucci, Lucio Marinelli, Consuelo Borgarelli, Bruno Burlando, Livia Pisciotta, and Ilaria Demori. “Online Questionnaire with Fibromyalgia Patients Shows Negative Correlations between Disease Severity and Adherence to Mediterranean Diet.” Nutrients 16, no. 7 (2024): 1078.

© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
4.0/).

Click here to read the full text study.

Posted May 7, 2024.

Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.

References:

  1. Chinn S, Caldwell W, Gritsenko K. Fibromyalgia Pathogenesis and Treatment Options Update. Curr Pain Headache Rep. Apr 2016;20(4):25. doi:10.1007/s11916-016-0556-x
  2. Devigili G, Di Stefano G, Donadio V, et al. Clinical criteria and diagnostic assessment of fibromyalgia: position statement of the Italian Society of Neurology-Neuropathic Pain Study Group. Neurol Sci. Jul 2023;44(7):2561-2574. doi:10.1007/s10072-023-06836-3
  3. Siracusa R, Paola RD, Cuzzocrea S, Impellizzeri D. Fibromyalgia: Pathogenesis, Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Treatment Options Update. Int J Mol Sci. Apr 9 2021;22(8)doi:10.3390/ijms22083891
  4. Demori I, Molinari E, Rapallo F, et al. Online Questionnaire with Fibromyalgia Patients Reveals Correlations among Type of Pain, Psychological Alterations, and Effectiveness of Non-Pharmacological Therapies. Healthcare (Basel). Oct 9 2022;10(10)doi:10.3390/healthcare10101975
  5. Proietti E, Rapallo F, Molinari E, et al. Online Questionnaire with Fibromyalgia Patients Shows Negative Correlations between Disease Severity and Adherence to Mediterranean Diet. Nutrients. Apr 6 2024;16(7)doi:10.3390/nu16071078