Vegan diet alleviates fibromyalgia symptoms.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of a strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria on fibromyalgia symptoms compared to an omnivorous diet.
Results Summary
The vegan diet significantly improved pain, joint stiffness, sleep quality, health assessments, and reduced BMI and cholesterol. Urine sodium levels indicated good compliance with the diet.
Population
18 fibromyalgia patients (with 15 omnivorous controls).
Effective Dosage
Not specified (strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet).
Duration
3 months.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria | decrease | Visual analogue scale of pain (VAS) | 18 fibromyalgia patients | p=0.005 | significant improvements | #1 |
strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria | decrease | joint stiffness | 18 fibromyalgia patients | p=0.001 | significant improvements | #2 |
strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria | increase | quality of sleep | 18 fibromyalgia patients | p=0.0001 | significant improvements | #3 |
strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria | decrease | Health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) | 18 fibromyalgia patients | p=0.031 | significant improvements | #4 |
strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria | decrease | General health questionnaire (GHQ) | 18 fibromyalgia patients | p=0.021 | significant improvements | #5 |
strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria | decrease | rheumatologist's own questionnaire | 18 fibromyalgia patients | p=0.038 | significant improvements | #6 |
vegan food | decrease | body mass index (BMI) | majority of patients (overweight to some extent) | p=0.0001 | significant reduction | #7 |
strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria | decrease | Total serum cholesterol | 18 fibromyalgia patients | p=0.003 | statistically significant lowering | #8 |
strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria | decrease | Urine sodium | 18 fibromyalgia patients | to 1/3 of the beginning values (p=0.0001) | dropped | #9 |
vegan diet | decrease | fibromyalgia symptoms | fibromyalgia patients | - | beneficial effects | #10 |
The effect of a strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria on symptoms in 18 fibromyalgia patients during and after a 3-month intervention period in an open, non-randomized controlled study was evaluated. As control 15 patients continued their omnivorous diet. The groups did not differ significantly from each other in the beginning of the study in any other parameters except in pain and urine sodium. The results revealed significant improvements in Visual analogue scale of pain (VAS) (p=0.005), joint stiffness (p=0.001), quality of sleep (p=0.0001), Health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) (p=0.031), General health questionnaire (GHQ) (p=0.021), and a rheumatologist's own questionnaire (p=0.038). The majority of patients were overweight to some extent at the beginning of the study and shifting to a vegan food caused a significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) (p=0.0001). Total serum cholesterol showed a statistically significant lowering (p=0.003). Urine sodium dropped to 1/3 of the beginning values (p=0.0001) indicating good diet compliance. It can be concluded that vegan diet had beneficial effects on fibromyalgia symptoms at least in the short run.