Reduction in Pain and Pain Intensity with Nonpharmacological Treatment in Severely Obese Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Erika Aparecida Silveira,Ana Paula Dos Santos Rodrigues,Matias Noll,Camila Kellen De Souza Cardoso,Carolina Rodrigues Mendonça,Annelisa Silva Alves De Carvalho Santos

doi:10.3390/ijerph182111112

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of two nonpharmacological interventions—traditional Brazilian diet (DieTBra), and extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)—in terms of the reduction in pain and pain intensity in individuals with severe obesity. We conducted a 12-week parallel randomized clinical trial with 149 individuals (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2) who were randomized into three groups: supplementation with EVOO (n = 50), DieTBra (n = 49), and EVOO + DieTBra (n = 50). Of the total, 133 individuals with a mean BMI of 46.04 kg/m2 completed the study. By the end of the follow-up, there was a reduction in severe pain in the EVOO + DieTBra group (p = 0.003). There was a significant reduction in severe pain in the EVOO + DieTBra group (−22.7%); pain in the wrist and hand (−14.1%), upper back (−26.9%), and knees (−18.4%) in the DieTBra group; and reduction in hip pain (−11.1%) with EVOO consumption. We conclude that EVOO and DieTBra, either alone or in combination, are effective interventions to reduce pain intensity and pain in different regions in individuals with severe obesity, and have great potential for clinical application.

Highlights

Obesity and severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 ) have increased alarmingly worldwide, and are risk factors for many diseases, including musculoskeletal disorders [1,2]
The few nutritional interventions to have investigated the treatment of pain were performed on adults with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [13], Int
This is, to our knowledge, the first study to investigate the effects of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) and DieTBra on pain, pain intensity, and pain by site in adults with severe obesity

Summary

Introduction

Obesity and severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 ) have increased alarmingly worldwide, and are risk factors for many diseases, including musculoskeletal disorders [1,2]. Considering the relationships between pain and obesity, and the presence of multimorbidity, it is relevant to investigate the possibilities of treatment for musculoskeletal pain in individuals with severe obesity—primarily nondrug treatments with low costs and no side effects [1,4]. In this context, the daily consumption of certain foods—such as fruits, vegetables, yogurt, red wine, and extra-virgin olive oil—can modulate pain [9,10,11].

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Methods

Conclusion