Dietary Quality is Associated with Better Self-Efficacy and Depression in Patients with Fibromyalgia from a Comparative Effectiveness Trial: A Small Pilot Study

Authors

Andrew R. Beauchesne, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Maine Medical Center, Portland, MaineFollow
Lori Lyn Price, Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts; The Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MassachusettsFollow
Chenchen Wang, Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine and Division of Rheumatology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsFollow
Mei Chung, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsFollow

Submission Type

Original Research

Abstract

Background: Diet and exercise have been suggested as potentially beneficial for symptom management of fibromyalgia; however, data on the relationship between diet quality and fibromyalgia symptoms are limited.

Objective: To investigate diet quality and its relationship with 1) fibromyalgia impact, and 2) psychological health in patients with fibromyalgia who participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Tai Chi versus aerobic exercise for fibromyalgia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled participants from a RCT. Diet quality and fibromyalgia symptoms were assessed using the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010) and Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), respectively. Retrospective analyses were performed using Spearman’s coefficient (r) to examine the association of diet quality with pre-intervention FIQR, psychological variables, and quality of life.

Results: Twenty-six female participants (mean age = 56 y; mean pre-intervention BMI = 29.6) of 223 trial participants (11.7%) were included in the analyses. Higher diet quality was associated with higher pre-intervention Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy scores (r=0.62, p=0.01), and lower Hospital Depression scores (r=-0.47, p=0.02). There were no significant associations between diet quality and pre-intervention severity of depressive symptoms, mental or physical health quality of life, sleep quality, or FIQR scores.

Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest a positive association between diet quality and self-efficacy and psychological health in women with fibromyalgia. Future prospective studies are needed.

Recommended Citation

Beauchesne, Andrew R.; Price, Lori Lyn; Wang, Chenchen; and Chung, Mei (2020) "Dietary Quality is Associated with Better Self-Efficacy and Depression in Patients with Fibromyalgia from a Comparative Effectiveness Trial: A Small Pilot Study," Journal of Maine Medical Center: Vol. 2 : Iss. 1 , Article 3.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.46804/2641-2225.1031