Relieving Osteoarthritis Symptoms: The Impact of a Whole-Foods, Plant-Based Diet

The article is titled “Whole-Foods, Plant-Based Diet Alleviates the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis” by Dr. Mary Wendt and colleagues from Michigan State University. They tested whether a no meat, no dairy diet made up of fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes could relieve pain and improve physical function in people with osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) involves loss of cartilage cushioning the joints, resulting in pain, stiffness and reduced mobility over time. It affects over 30 million Americans, especially older adults. Weight loss can help by lowering stress on weight-bearing joints.

Study Design

The 6 week trial had 40 osteoarthritis patients randomly assigned to either:

- Intervention group: Switch to a whole foods plant-based (WFPB) diet

- Control group: Remain on regular diets with animal foods

Participants reported pain levels, physical abilities and quality of life through standard arthritis questionnaires over the 6 weeks.

Key Results

Compared to controls, the WFPB group experienced:

- 29% more pain relief

- 10% more energy

- 11% better physical function

- 8% greater overall physical health

Improvements happened quickly, with less pain reported after just 2 weeks on the new diet. The plant-based group also lost 5 more pounds than controls.

Conclusion

The findings show a nutrient-dense WFPB diet can safely lead to substantial arthritis symptom relief, likely by reducing joint inflammation. The study suggests dietary changes should be part of osteoarthritis treatment.

Clinton, C. M., O'Brien, S., Law, J., Renier, C. M., & Wendt, M. R. (2015). "Whole-Foods, Plant-Based Diet Alleviates the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis." Journal of Arthritis, 4(2), 152. doi: 10.4172/2167-7921.1000152. PMCID: PMC4359818. Available at: PubMed Central.