MED,RES: Fibromyalgia syndrome improved using a mostly raw vegetarian diet: An observational study

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Research article

Fibromyalgia syndrome improved using a mostly raw vegetarian diet: An

observational study

S son1 , Neal Speight2 and Loomis3

1 Hallelujah Acres Foundation, Shelby, NC USA

2 Center for Wellness, Charlotte, NC USA

3 Cleveland Physical Therapy Associates, Shelby, NC USA

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2001 1: 7

This article is available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/1/7

Received 20 Jun 2001

Accepted 26 Sep 2001

Published 26 Sep 2001

© 2001 son et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. Verbatim copying and

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Abstract

Background

Fibromyalgia engulfs patients in a downward, reinforcing cycle of

unrestorative sleep, chronic pain, fatigue, inactivity, and depression. In

this study we tested whether a mostly raw vegetarian diet would

significantly improve fibromyalgia symptoms.

Methods

Thirty people participated in a dietary intervention using a mostly raw,

pure vegetarian diet. The diet consisted of raw fruits, salads, carrot

juice, tubers, grain products, nuts, seeds, and a dehydrated barley grass

juice product. Outcomes measured were dietary intake, the fibromyalgia

impact questionnaire (FIQ), SF-36 health survey, a quality of life survey

(QOLS), and physical performance measurements.

Results

Twenty-six subjects returned dietary surveys at 2 months; 20 subjects

returned surveys at the beginning, end, and at either 2 or 4 months of

intervention; 3 subjects were lost to follow-up. The mean FIQ score (n = 20)

was reduced 46% from 51 to 28. Seven of the 8 SF-36 subscales, bodily pain

being the exception, showed significant improvement (n = 20, all P for trend

< 0.01). The QOLS, scaled from 0 to 7, rose from 3.9 initially to 4.9 at 7

months (n = 20, P for trend 0.000001). Significant improvements (n = 18, P <

0.03, paired t-test) were seen in shoulder pain at rest and after motion,

abduction range of motion of shoulder, flexibility, chair test, and 6-minute

walk. 19 of 30 subjects were classified as responders, with significant

improvement on all measured outcomes, compared to no improvement among

non-responders. At 7 months responders' SF-36 scores for all scales except

bodily pain were no longer statistically different from norms for women ages

45–54.

Conclusion

This dietary intervention shows that many fibromyalgia subjects can be

helped by a mostly raw vegetarian diet

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http://www.cfsresearch.org/fib/3.htm