The Role of Nutrition Therapy in the Management of Chronic Pain

Vollständiger Abstract

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Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting longer than three months or recurring in nature and is considered a major public health problem affecting millions of people worldwide. This condition, which significantly reduces quality of daily life and may lead to physical, psychological, and social problems, can negatively affect individuals' lives over the long term. Although the mechanisms underlying the development of chronic pain have not yet been fully understood, recent scientific studies suggest that certain biological processes may play a role in its development. Among these processes, oxidative stress, inflammation, increased body weight, and imbalance in gut microbiota (dysbiosis) are particularly prominent. Notably, most of these factors are closely associated with nutrition either directly or indirectly. Therefore, investigating the effects of nutrition on the development and severity of chronic pain may enable the development of nutrition-based approaches aimed at reducing pain. This review discusses the possible biological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of chronic pain and examines the role and potential contributions of nutrition therapy in this process. Thus, the importance of nutrition as a complementary approach in the prevention and management of chronic pain is emphasized.