Fibromyalgia and Nutrition: An Updated Review

Abstract

Due to the lack of specific and standardized treatments for the management of fibromyalgia (FM), available evidence suggests a multidisciplinary approach, and nutrition represents an important therapeutic strategy. This work aims to update the relationship between FM and nutrition, through a review of more recent scientific evidence based on a systematic research on PubMed. Of 66 records initially identified, 26 studies were selected and included in the present work. Although there is not sufficient evidence for the efficacy of specific nutritional protocols, the examined papers indicate a potential role of selected nutrients, micronutrients and food components in managing FM symptoms. However, several concerns persist as nutritional status and/or nutritional integration can improve FM symptoms, without expecting to lead to a remission of the disease. The use of targeted nutritional supplements may be of some relevance for the management of FM, but the up to date evidence remains weak. It is advisable, thus, to perform further studies of higher quality.

KEY TEACHING POINTS

• Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by chronic and diffuse musculoskeletal pain, often associated with a large set of symptoms.

• The therapeutic approach of FM include pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Among them, an important role is played by nutrition.

• Of 66 record screened, 12 studies were included in the present review and five of them were randomized controlled trials. Nevertheless, the overall quality of those trials was scarce.

• Literature concerning FM and nutritions is growing. However, little evidence suggests that nutrition and/or nutritional intervention play a significant role on FM severity.

• The results of this review underline the need to carry out clinical studies of higher quality and rigor, possibly RCTs, focused on the role of nutrition in the symptoms and/or severity of FM.

Keywords:

• Fibromyalgia
• nutrition
• nutritional status
• nutritional integration

Acknowledgments

The authors desire to express their gratitude to the precious contribution of Stefano Stabene (Scientific Library, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy) for his supervision in the bibliographic review of the literature.

Author contributions

L.V., as Medical Teacher at the Master of Nutrition (II level), University of Pavia (Italy), and P.R. as Director of the same Master, had the idea of an update review on FM. S.M. prepared the first version of the review on FM as her final thesis (in Italian language). L.T. wrote this article, setting up the English version of the manuscript, tables and figures, and their final version. F.B. collaborated to the final version of the manuscript, with some advises as mentor. C.L.V., and L.S.M. critically revised the manuscript giving their useful suggestions.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.