Effect of a Mediterranean type diet on inflammatory and cartilage degradation biomarkers in patients with osteoarthritis

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition, health & aging Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 562 - 566
• Main Authors: Dyer, J., Davison, G., Marcora, S. M., Mauger, Alexis R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer Paris 01.05.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Arthritis; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Cartilage; Cartilage - pathology; Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein - blood; Diet; Diet, Mediterranean; Female; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Hip; Hip Joint; Humans; Knee; Knee Joint; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neurosciences; Nutrition; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis - blood; Osteoarthritis - diet therapy; Osteoarthritis - pathology; Osteoarthritis, Hip - blood; Osteoarthritis, Hip - diet therapy; Osteoarthritis, Hip - pathology; Osteoarthritis, Knee - blood; Osteoarthritis, Knee - diet therapy; Osteoarthritis, Knee - pathology; Primary Care Medicine; Quality of Life Research; Range of Motion, Articular; AIMS2; Diet; osteoarthritis (OA); Mediterranean diet; IL-1α; sCOMP
• ISSN: 1279-7707; 1760-4788
• DOI: 10.1007/s12603-016-0806-y

Objectives To investigate the effects of a Mediterranean type diet on patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Participants Ninety-nine volunteers with OA (aged 31 - 90 years) completed the study (83% female). Setting Southeast of England, UK. Design Participants were randomly allocated to the dietary intervention (DIET, n = 50) or control (CON, n = 49). The DIET group were asked to follow a Mediterranean type diet for 16 weeks whereas the CON group were asked to follow their normal diet. Measurements All participants completed an Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale (AIMS2) pre-, mid- and post- study period. A subset of participants attended a clinic at the start and end of the study for assessment of joint range of motion, ROM (DIET = 33, CON = 28), and to provide blood samples (DIET = 29, CON = 25) for biomarker analysis (including serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (sCOMP) (a marker of cartilage degradation) and a panel of other relevant biomarkers including pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines). Results There were no differences between groups in the response of any AIMS2 components and most biomarkers (p > 0.05), except the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1α, which decreased in the DIET group (~47%, p = 0.010). sCOMP decreased in the DIET group by 1 U/L (~8%, p = 0.014). There was a significant improvement in knee flexion and hip rotation ROM in the DIET group (p < 0.05). Conclusions The average reduction in sCOMP in the DIET group (1 U/L) represents a meaningful change, but the longer term effects require further study.