title: Influence of pro-algesic foods on chronic pain conditions.
abstract: This paper examines current knowledge about putative "pro-algesic" dietary components, and discusses whether limiting the intake of these substances can help improve chronic pain. Although there is a common impression that numerous food components, natural and synthetic, can cause or worsen pain symptoms, very few of these substances have been investigated. This article focuses on four substances, monosodium glutamate, aspartame, arachidonic acid, and caffeine, where research shows that overconsumption may induce or worsen pain. For each substance, the mechanism whereby it may act to induce pain is examined, and any clinical trials examining the effectiveness of reducing the intake of the substance discussed. While all four substances are associated with pain, decreased consumption of them does not consistently reduce pain.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences , The University of British Columbia , Vancouver , Canada.|b Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine , Aalborg University , Aalborg East , Denmark.
authors.forename: Brian Edwin
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Cairns
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001218:Aspartame / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D005502:Food / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005503:Food Additives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D012970:Sodium Glutamate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005503:Food Additives; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D002110:Caffeine; D012970:Sodium Glutamate; D001218:Aspartame
keywords: 6-omega polyunsaturated fats; arachidonic acid; aspartame; caffeine; diet; fibromyalgia; glutamate; headache