Patients on a polyamine-deficient diet before and after spinal
surgery experienced significant relief from both chronic and acute pain,
reveals a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2013 annual meeting.Polyamines
are molecules that come from the amino acid metabolism
and the urea cycle, a series of biochemical reactions that occur
primarily in the liver and, to a lesser extent, the kidneys. Animals and
plants receive polyamines through food. All cell growth requires
polyamines and they are critical to the healthy function of the nervous
system. Recently, however, it has been demonstrated that a
polyamine-deficient diet relieves cancer pain and non-malignant chronic
pain. "This study looked to investigate whether a polyamine-deficient
diet
could relieve perioperative pain, including chronic pain before surgery
and acute pain after surgery, " said Jean-Pierre Estebe, M.D., Ph.D.,
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Rennes, France. "Reducing
post-operative pain has significant benefits for the patient because it
is usually a major reason for longer hospital stays and recovery." In
this prospective, randomized and blinded study, 64 lumbar spine
surgery patients were divided into two groups. The first group followed a
diet of six Nutrialys drinks (Polydol manufactured with a low polyamine
content) in various flavors, plus a European breakfast without fruit
for seven days before surgery and five days after; the second group
followed a diet of two Nutrialys drinks, plus a normal diet. Results
were evaluated using a numerical pain-rating scale at rest and at motion
as well as quality of life questionnaires. Patients in the first group
had decreased pain at rest before surgery,
which became significant after surgery. This decrease of pain was also
reported for pain at motion. Pain relief was more significant in
patients with the most intense pain. Finally, patients in the first
group had improved quality of life before and after surgery.
"Polyamine-deficient diets seem to be effective as a pain relief
treatment for both chronic and acute pain," explained Dr. Estebe. "Of
course, more studies with patients using the diet for longer periods of
time need to be conducted to assess its usefulness long-term. However,
with a good tolerance and compliance, polyamine-deficient diets are a
new, safer technique for improving the management of pain in combination
with the analgesic drugs classically used in humans. Functional foods,
defined as food that may provide health benefit beyond traditional
nutrition, is a new, promising therapeutic option."Source-Newswise
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