Diet Quality Linked to Chronic Pain Relief: Study Finds
Women who ate foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains reported experiencing less pain.
Chronic pain, affecting roughly 30% of the global population, is influenced by diet quality, particularly in females, regardless of body fat, according to a new study in Nutrition Research.
Researchers examined data from the Whyalla Intergenerational Study of Health (WISH), involving 654 Australians aged 18 to 89, with women making up 57% of participants.
The study aimed to explore whether body fat—measured by BMI, waist circumference, or body fat percentage—connected diet quality to pain and physical function.
Diet data were collected via a 12-month food frequency questionnaire, and diet quality was assessed using the Australian Dietary Guideline Index.
Pain levels were measured using a pain scale, while hand grip strength was tested to evaluate physical function.
The study revealed that body fat did not mediate the link between diet quality and chronic pain. Instead, diet quality was found to have a direct impact on pain levels.
How Healthy Eating Can Ease Chronic Pain
Chronic pain, lasting over three months, has various causes, but a clear connection to body fat has been established.
Obesity can create a cycle where excess weight worsens pain, while pain leads to further weight gain, making it harder to lose fat and stay active.
Recent studies, however, suggest that diet may affect pain independently of body weight.
Women who ate foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains reported experiencing less pain.
Dr. Thomas M. Holland, MD, MS, explained that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of such foods could help reduce pain severity.
Foods like berries, olive oil, leafy greens, omega-3-rich fish, nuts, seeds, and whole grains may enhance overall well-being and ease pain.