| The generation of excess free radicals and/or a | | | | a 3-month uncooked vegan diet on fibromyalgia |
| deficiency in antioxidant status may play a | | | | symptoms. Again, the diet was understood to be rich |
| pathophysiological role in numerous illnesses including | | | | in lactobacilli based on the findings of the previous LF |
| fibromyalgia. Research has shown that FM patients | | | | investigators. Those on the vegan diet reported a |
| have signs of increased oxidative stress as measured | | | | significant decrease in pain and morning stiffness and |
| by protein peroxidation. In addition, decreased levels | | | | improvement in sleep quality and general health. |
| of red blood cell magnesium, plasma selenium, and | | | | Patients in the vegan diet intervention group also lost |
| thiols (essential in antioxidant handling of free | | | | weight over the 3-month trial. Prior to commencing |
| radicals), have been observed. Magnesium deficiency | | | | the diet, 50% of the fibromyalgia patients had a |
| results in the loss of red blood cell glutathione, | | | | body mass index (BMI) of 25 and greater, but after |
| selenium is involved in glutathione peroxidase activity, | | | | 3 months on a vegan diet, all had a BMI below 24. |
| and thiols are a class of organic sulfur derivatives | | | | The most recent investigation into a raw vegetarian |
| (including glutathione and alpha Lipoic acid) that act as | | | | diet also had beneficial results (Donaldson, Speight, |
| reducing agents. | | | | & Loomis, 2001). All subjects in this study were |
| Diet can have a profound effect on antioxidant levels | | | | fibromyalgia patients who participated in a dietary |
| in the human body. The effect of a vegetarian diet | | | | intervention using a mostly raw, pure vegetarian diet. |
| on antioxidant levels has been the source of | | | | Subjects were instructed to consume fresh fruit, |
| considerable research in recent years. Plasma total | | | | salad, raw vegetables, carrot juice, nuts, seeds, |
| antioxidant status can be significantly increased in | | | | whole grains, tubers, flax seed oil, and extra virgin |
| people following a vegetarian diet and after | | | | olive oil. They were instructed to avoid alcohol, |
| consuming a meal high in fruits and vegetables. | | | | caffeine, corn syrup, dairy, eggs, all meat, refined |
| Vegetarian diets are associated with increased | | | | sugar, and hydrogenated oils and were given an |
| magnesium intake and glutathione levels. | | | | unlimited quantity of dehydrated barley grass powder |
| The first objective findings that indicate a vegetarian | | | | (Barley Green). A live instructional or video |
| diet may benefit fibromyalgia patients come from a | | | | presentation was made available to all subjects. No |
| 1993 study published from the University of Oslo, | | | | further motivational encouragement was given. |
| Norway. They placed fibromyalgia patients on a | | | | Validated instruments such as the Fibromyalgia |
| 3-week vegetarian diet and measured peroxide | | | | Impact Questionnaire (GIQ) and the SF-36 Health |
| levels, plasma fibrinogen, and serum lipid before and | | | | Survey were used in follow-up assessment. |
| after the diet. At the end of the study, there was a | | | | Twenty subjects returned surveys as requested |
| decrease in serum cholesterol that was positively | | | | over the course of the 7-month trial. A 33% |
| correlated with reduction in body weight, mean | | | | improvement was noted in FIQ scores after 2 |
| serum peroxide levels fell, and mean plasma | | | | months, and this increased to 46% after 7 months. |
| fibrinogen levels decreased, and subjectively, seven | | | | Quality-of-life scores increased over the course of |
| of ten fibromyalgia patients reported an increase in | | | | the intervention, particularly in the areas of |
| health status in the form of improved well-being and | | | | recreation, health, socializing, and participation in |
| reduced pain. | | | | organization. SF-36 results were significantly higher |
| More recently, there have been three published | | | | compared to general population norms, however, |
| studies examining the role of the vegetarian or vegan | | | | after 7 months, the general health, vitality, role |
| diet in the treatment of fibromyalgia. The first study | | | | emotional, and mental health scores were no longer |
| (Hanninen et al., 2000) addressed the potential role of | | | | different. Significant improvement in the areas of |
| antioxi9dants from a vegan diet in fibromyalgia and | | | | physical performance, exercise tolerance, flexibility, |
| rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The University of Kuopio, | | | | and range of motion were recorded by a physical |
| Finland, researchers examined living foods (LF), a | | | | therapist. Handgrip strength and isometric shoulder |
| type of vegan diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, | | | | endurance did not improve. |
| seeds, sprouts, and nuts. The results of this study | | | | Vegetarian and vegan diets have been and continue |
| showed that significantly higher levels of serum | | | | to be of interest to those investigating other |
| carotenoids (lutein, lycopene, alpha carotene, and | | | | rheumatic disorders. Previous studies have shown |
| beta carotene) and flavonols (quercetin, kaempherol, | | | | that vegetarian or vegan diets can be of value in |
| and myricetin) were found in the LF groups | | | | reducing RA symptoms. Most recently, a 1-year |
| fibromyalgia patients who consumed the LF diet | | | | controlled study involving RA patients showed that a |
| reported significant improvements in joint stiffness, | | | | vegan diet (free of gluten) improved symptoms, |
| pain, and general health. The authors attribute the | | | | possibly related to a diminished immune response to |
| beneficial effect of the LF diet to the increased | | | | exogenous food antigens. The combined studies |
| antioxidant and lignin levels as well as to the positive | | | | suggest that changes in the gut immune system can |
| change in intestinal micro flora. | | | | influence the course of rheumatic symptoms. |
| Researchers in Finland also investigated the effect of | | | | |