Mediterranean Diet and Knee Cartilage Morphology

Various types of diets can benefit a person’s health, and the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet is no different. The diet, which is focused on primarily plant-based foods, whole grains, red meat limitation, and using healthy fats, has received a lot of interest with both patients and clinicians. According to information from the Mayo Clinic, the Mediterranean diet is also associated with a reduced incidence of cancer, as well as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.  

Data has shown that the Mediterranean diet can be beneficial for osteoarthritis (OA), but data available regarding the association between the diet and the condition are limited to X-ray and clinical findings is limited, according to a study in Clinical Rheumatology. 

Higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet was found to be associated with greater knee cartilage as assessed by MRI #osteoarthritis https://t.co/k0F96CDDdA

— ProfDavidHunter (@ProfDavidHunter) April 9, 2018

In the study, researchers investigated the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and knee cartilage morphology. A cohort of North American participants were used and were assessed using magnetic resonance (MRI). A validated Mediterranean diet score (aMED) was used by the participants to monitor Mediterranean diet adherence. 

Patients with #kneeOA who adhered to a #Mediterraneandiet showed a significant improvement in cartilage as assessed by MRI, even after adjusting for potential confounding – exercise. If you have OA in the knees exercise & diet is your best medicine. https://t.co/owFyrccSao pic.twitter.com/aItlUFxRYN

— SportsRehab&Wellness (@SRW_DrDixon) May 8, 2018

The strength of the association between aMED and knee MRI parameters was gauged using an adjusted linear regression analysis, expressed as standardized betas with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). 

“Higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet was found to be associated with a significant improvement in knee cartilage as assessed by MRI, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors,” the researchers concluded. 

SOURCE: Clinical Rheumatology