[Uncontrolled clinical study of the efficacy of ambulant fasting in patients with osteoarthritis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the efficacy of fasting therapy according to Buchinger on pain, state of health, and articular function in patients with osteoarthritis.


METHODS
Uncontrolled pilot study in which 30 patients (22 women, 8 men) with osteoarthritis (Kellgren stages I-III) of the hand (N = 10), hip (N = 8) and knee (N = 12) underwent ambulant fasting therapy according to Buchinger for 2 weeks with 3 pre-fast days, 8 fast days (300 kcal) and 4 re-feed days as well as follow-up 4 and 12 weeks afterwards. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA: Global intensity of pain (visual analogue scale, VAS); joint pain with activity, with start of walking, at rest (VAS); pressure pain threshold; articular function; health-related quality of life (SF-36 including Physical Component Score and Mental Component Score); Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Arthrose Index (WOMAC); painDETECT-questionnaire (Pfizer); analgesics; weight; body mass index (BMI); waist circumference; blood pressure; pulse and a variety of serological parameters.


RESULTS
Pain, state of health, and articular function improved significantly; significant reduction in weight, BMI, and waist circumference during fasting and over the complete course of the study; analgesics could be reduced. No abnormalities in autonomous, metabolic, or blood parameters were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Medically supervised fasting can have a positive impact on the symptoms of patients with moderate osteoarthritis. This finding must be consolidated by controlled studies that include higher numbers of patients.
Schmidt
Sebastian
S
Kompetenzzentrum Naturheilverfahren, Klinik für Innere Medizin II, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Jena, Deutschland. sebastianschmidt81@web.de
Stange
Rainer
R
Lischka
Eva
E
Kiehntopf
Michael
M
Deufel
Thomas
T
Loth
Dorit
D
Uhlemann
Christine
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D015992:Body Mass Index; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000178:diet therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055105:Waist Circumference