Gastrointestinal Conditions Affect Chronic Pain and Quality of Life in Women

Ilenia Casini, Lauretta Massai, Erminia Solomita, Kathleen Ortenzi, Stefano Pieretti and Anna Maria Aloisi ()
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Ilenia Casini: Pain and Stress Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
Lauretta Massai: Pain and Stress Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
Erminia Solomita: Pain and Stress Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
Kathleen Ortenzi: Pain and Stress Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
Stefano Pieretti: National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Anna Maria Aloisi: Pain and Stress Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Pain is a chronic condition in many women; drugs used for its treatment are often accompanied by detrimental effects on many organs, including the gut. Once inflamed, the gut can affect pain processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the general health of women suffering chronic pain, with particular attention to gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. The possibility to improve pain and quality of life through personalized nutritional advice was also tested. Forty women suffering from chronic pain were contacted for the administration of questionnaires to define their pain features and gastrointestinal conditions. Their psychological, clinical and reproductive states were also recorded. Pain scores were correlated with GI, psychological and clinical scores. Diet suggestions were given, and evaluation was repeated after 4 weeks. Thirty-eight women were included in the study: 32 suffered chronic widespread pain and had 6 pelvic pain. Pain had been present in all women for years; more than 80% of women reported various types of disorders related to the gut. Pain scores were worse in the women intolerant to milk and dairy products. The GI score was positively correlated with the pain score. The Dietary Inflammatory Index was very high in all subjects. Personalized nutritional advice followed by 26 subjects for 4 weeks resulted in a significant improvement of pain and quality of life parameters. We describe women with chronic pain as being particularly affected by GI alterations. The change in feeding habits had a beneficial effect on pain and other quality of life parameters.

Keywords: chronic pain; gastrointestinal disorders; dietary inflammatory index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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