An anti-inflammatory diet intervention for knee osteoarthritis: a feasibility study

Cooper I, Brukner P, Devlin BL, Reddy AJ, Fulton M, Kemp JL, Culvenor AG · BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Tests whether the trial can be run rather than whether the diet works, which is what a feasibility study is for. 66% of those screened were eligible, 28 enrolled in 2 months, 21% withdrew, attendance at telehealth consultations was 99%, and 95% reported adhering every day or most days. Change scores on all five KOOS subscales contained the minimal detectable change within their confidence intervals — the pre-specified signal that a full trial is worth running — and completers lost a mean 3.0 kg. Two minor adverse events.

Population

28 adults aged 40-85 with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, 82% female, mean BMI 30.7

Intervention

A 9-week telehealth-delivered anti-inflammatory dietary education programme emphasising nutrient-dense wholefoods and discouraging processed foods

Comparator

None — single-arm feasibility study

Limitations

Single-arm, 28 people, 9 weeks, self-reported adherence and self-reported body mass, with a 21% drop-out. Planned as a two-arm randomised study and converted to a single arm before enrolment under COVID-19 restrictions, which is also why every outcome is self-reported. One author has written a commercial book on diet and inflammation, disclosed; funded by a La Trobe University grant. Registered ACTRN12620000229976.