Strawberries Improve Pain and Inflammation in Obese Adults with Radiographic Evidence of Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is a significant public health burden in U.S. adults. Among its many risk factors, obesity is a key player, causing inflammation, pain, impaired joint function, and reduced quality of life. Dietary polyphenols and other bioactive compounds in berries, curcumin, and tea have shown effects in ameliorating pain and inflammation in OA, but few clinical studies have been reported. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of dietary strawberries on pain, markers of inflammation, and quality of life indicators in obese adults with OA of the knee. In a randomized, double-blind cross-over trial, adults with radiographic evidence of knee OA (n = 17; body mass index (BMI): (mean ± SD) 39.1 ± 1.5; age (years): 57 ± 7) were randomized to a reconstituted freeze-dried strawberry beverage (50 g/day) or control beverage daily, each for 12 weeks, separated by a 2-week washout phase (total duration, 26 weeks).

Blood draws and assessments of pain and quality of life indicators were conducted using the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS Pain), Measures of Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP), and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) questionnaires, which were completed at baseline and at weeks 12, 14, and 26 of the study.

Among the serum biomarkers of inflammation and cartilage degradation, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 were significantly decreased after strawberry vs. control treatment (all p < 0.05). Strawberry supplementation also significantly reduced constant, intermittent, and total pain as evaluated by the ICOAP questionnaire as well as the HAQ-DI scores (all p < 0.05). No effects of treatment were noted on serum C-reactive protein (CRP), nitrite, glucose, and lipid profiles. Dietary strawberries may have significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in obese adults with established knee OA.

Strawberries Improve Pain and Inflammation in Obese Adults with Radiographic Evidence of Knee Osteoarthritis - PMC (nih.gov)

 

I'm not obese, but I am getting regular strawberries from the garden at the moment..........shall have to wait and see if it helps with joints

 

I guess that one could add a layer of sliced strawberries to go with the double cheeseburger with bacon and find the 20$ bank note between the lettuce and the pickle and clue in they have to declare less pain when the questionnaire ask them to

But what about the non obese osteoarthritis patients? load them up with strawberry sugar drink too or stick to their regular diet?

 

In general I’m not against “big agriculture”, but the commercially produced strawberries in the USA are generally large and flavorless, and I tend not to buy them. When I was younger I believe that the strawberries tasted much better.

 

Maybe, but inflammatory markers are not known to be associated with OA as far as I know so maybe strawberries are just IL-6 blockers of no relation to joints.

The slightly worrying thing is that CRP is driven by IL-6 so it is difficult to know why IL-6 should go down without CRP. CRP is effectively the bioassay for IL-6!

 

And I am a bit sceptical that someone would not notice that they are eating a kilogram of strawberry mush - as opposed to placebomush.