A dietary intervention for chronic diabetic neuropathy pain: a randomized controlled pilot study

Authors

A. E. Bunner
C. L. Wells
J. Gonzales
U. Agarwal
Elham Bayat, George Washington University
Neal D. Barnard, George Washington University

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2015

Journal

Nutrition and Diabetes

Volume

Volume 5

Inclusive Pages

e158

DOI

10.1038/nutd.2015.8

Abstract

Background:

Diabetic neuropathy is a common and often debilitating condition for which available treatments are limited. Because a low-fat plant-based diet has been shown to improve glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes, we hypothesized that such a diet would reduce painful symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

Methods:

In this 20-week pilot study, individuals with type 2 diabetes and painful diabetic neuropathy were randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention group was asked to follow a low-fat, plant-based diet, with weekly classes for support in following the prescribed diet, and to take a vitamin B12 supplement. The control group was asked to take the same vitamin B12 supplement, but received no other intervention. At baseline, midpoint and 20 weeks, clinical, laboratory and questionnaire data were collected. Questionnaires included an analog ‘worst pain’ scale, Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument, global impression scale, Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Neuropathy Total Symptom Score, a weekly pain diary and Norfolk Quality of Life Questionnaire.

Results:

After 20 weeks, body weight change with the intervention was −6.4 kg (95% confidence interval (CI) −9.4 to −3.4, PP=0.03) with the intervention in an effect size analysis. The between-group difference in change in pain, as measured by the McGill pain questionnaire, was −8.2 points (95% CI −16.1 to −0.3, P=0.04). Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument questionnaire score change was −1.6 points (95% CI −3.0 to −0.2, P=0.03).

Conclusions:

Improvements were seen in some clinical and pain measures. This pilot study suggests the potential value of a plant-based diet intervention, including weekly support classes, for treating painful diabetic neuropathy.

Comments

Reproduced with permission of Nature Journals. Nutrition and Diabetes.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

APA Citation

Bunner, A.E., Wells, C.L., Gonzales, J., Agarwal, U., Bayat, E. et al. (2015). A dietary intervention for chronic diabetic neuropathy pain: a randomized controlled pilot study. Nutrition and Diabetes, 5:e158.

Peer Reviewed

1

Open Access

1