What is pain?
Pain is a signal from the nervous system that something may be wrong and it can be a symptom of many conditions. It is an unpleasant feeling, such as a prick, sting, burn, or ache. Pain can be sharp or dull, and it may be temporary, intermittent, or constant.[1]
A revised definition of pain from the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) is as follows: “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.”[2]
How could diet affect pain?
There is no strong evidence linking diet to pain severity, but some hypotheses exist. For example, it has been suggested that moving from a Western diet (high in processed foods) to a diet high in purportedly anti-inflammatory foods (e.g., fruits and vegetables) may help alleviate chronic pain. Also, consuming foods with prebiotics and probiotics that can alter the gut flora and alleviate dysbiosis (an abnormal gut microbiome) may reduce gastrointestinal pain.[3]
Which supplements are of most interest for pain?
Supplements usually vary depending on the type of condition causing the pain. For example, for osteoarthritis pain, supplements of interest include glucosamine, chondroitin, curcumin, ginger, omega-3 fatty acids, and others.[4] For cancer and other types of pain, some supplements of interest include cannabidiol, cannabis, willow bark, and others.
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Frequently asked questions
Pain is a signal from the nervous system that something may be wrong and it can be a symptom of many conditions. It is an unpleasant feeling, such as a prick, sting, burn, or ache. Pain can be sharp or dull, and it may be temporary, intermittent, or constant.[1]
A revised definition of pain from the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) is as follows: “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.”[2]
The prevalence of chronic pain among adults is reported to be about 17–20% in Australia[5] and about 19% in Europe.[6] However, given the diversity of painful conditions, it can be difficult to accurately estimate the prevalence of chronic pain. One review of 165 studies from 54 countries suggests that low back pain alone affects 11.9% of adults worldwide.[7] These studies also note that older adults tend to experience more pain than younger adults.
There is no strong evidence linking diet to pain severity, but some hypotheses exist. For example, it has been suggested that moving from a Western diet (high in processed foods) to a diet high in purportedly anti-inflammatory foods (e.g., fruits and vegetables) may help alleviate chronic pain. Also, consuming foods with prebiotics and probiotics that can alter the gut flora and alleviate dysbiosis (an abnormal gut microbiome) may reduce gastrointestinal pain.[3]
Diet can decrease different types of pain via different mechanisms. For example, mechanical pain occurs due to disproportionate pressure on a muscle, bone, joint, or other tissue and the subsequent stimulation of mechanical nociceptors that signal pain. A diet that causes weight loss reduces the mechanical pressure of body weight on joints and bones, and this in turn can reduce pain in conditions such as osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis. Another example is inflammatory pain, which occurs when an inflammatory cascade involving the release of cytokines and mediators such as prostaglandins sensitizes the nerve fibers that produce pain signals. A diet high in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant foods might reduce the extent of an inflammatory cascade and therefore reduce pain in inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid-arthritis, multiple-sclerosis, and others. Finally, visceral pain initiates in certain internal organs such as the intestines, stomach, and the heart and may be precipitated simply by distention without injury. In this example, a diet that is easily digestible and doesn’t result in intestinal distention or bloating can reduce pain in conditions such as constipation, dysmenorrhea, and irritable-bowel-syndrome.[10][11]
Supplements usually vary depending on the type of condition causing the pain. For example, for osteoarthritis pain, supplements of interest include glucosamine, chondroitin, curcumin, ginger, omega-3 fatty acids, and others.[4] For cancer and other types of pain, some supplements of interest include cannabidiol, cannabis, willow bark, and others.
Most likely yes, and possibly more benefit! Relatively few trials have been done on sun exposure and health because it’s harder to control someone’s total dose without keeping them confined in some way, but the limited evidence is telling. For example, a small pilot trial[8] showed that UV-enriched tanning beds could help fibromyalgia pain. Although laying in a tanning bed doesn’t exactly equate to sun exposure, it does subject your skin to UV rays, And exposure to UV rays can have several non-vitamin D-related benefits[9] that could help with pain, such as increased endorphin production and nitric oxide synthesis.
References
- ^The content of this page was partially adapted from MedlinePlus of the National Library of Medicine
- ^ Revised Definition of Pain
- ^Simona Dragan, Maria-Corina Șerban, Georgiana Damian, Florina Buleu, Mihaela Valcovici, Ruxandra ChristodorescuDietary Patterns and Interventions to Alleviate Chronic PainNutrients.(2020 Aug 19)
- ^Mathieu S, Soubrier M, Peirs C, Monfoulet LE, Boirie Y, Tournadre AA Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Nutritional Supplementation on Osteoarthritis Symptoms.Nutrients.(2022-Apr-12)
- ^F M Blyth, L M March, A J Brnabic, L R Jorm, M Williamson, M J CousinsChronic pain in Australia: a prevalence studyPain.(2001 Jan)
- ^Harald Breivik, Beverly Collett, Vittorio Ventafridda, Rob Cohen, Derek GallacherSurvey of chronic pain in Europe: prevalence, impact on daily life, and treatmentEur J Pain.(2006 May)
- ^Damian Hoy, Christopher Bain, Gail Williams, Lyn March, Peter Brooks, Fiona Blyth, Anthony Woolf, Theo Vos, Rachelle BuchbinderA systematic review of the global prevalence of low back painArthritis Rheum.(2012 Jun)
- ^Taylor SL, Kaur M, LoSicco K, Willard J, Camacho F, O'Rourke KS, Feldman SRPilot study of the effect of ultraviolet light on pain and mood in fibromyalgia syndromeJ Altern Complement Med.(2009 Jan)
- ^Asta Juzeniene, Johan MoanBeneficial effects of UV radiation other than via vitamin D productionDermatoendocrinol.(2012 Apr 1)
- ^Caron JP, Kreher MA, Mickle AM, Wu S, Przkora R, Estores IM, Sibille KTIntermittent Fasting: Potential Utility in the Treatment of Chronic Pain across the Clinical Spectrum.Nutrients.(2022-Jun-18)
- ^Bonanni R, Cariati I, Tancredi V, Iundusi R, Gasbarra E, Tarantino UChronic Pain in Musculoskeletal Diseases: Do You Know Your Enemy?J Clin Med.(2022-May-06)