Articles
Role of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit in enhancing the quality of life of women with fibromyalgia syndrome – a preliminary investigation
Article number
1452_37
Pages
279 – 284
Language
English
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of daily consumption of Opuntia ficus-indica fruit (prickly pear), known for its potential anti-inflammatory properties, on quality of life in women diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Nineteen women diagnosed with FMS participated in this interventional clinical study.
They were instructed to consume prickly pear fruit twice a day for two weeks and complete SF-36 questionnaire at three-time points: before the intervention (T1), after two weeks of fruit consumption (T2), and after a two-week washout period (T3). Data analysis included descriptive statistics and paired comparisons using nonparametric tests.
The results of the study revealed a notable pattern at T2, where the consumption of prickly pear was associated with a decline in both physical functioning and mental health indices (p≤.01). However, this trend seemed to reverse after the cessation of fruit intake at T3 (p≤.05). Our finding highlights a complex and dynamic interaction between prickly pear consumption and the physical and mental health metrics in FMS patients.
The initial negative impact on these indices, followed by an improvement post-consumption, suggests that the benefits of prickly pear may not be immediate but could emerge over time, potentially leading to a delayed positive effect on the overall quality of life in these patients.
The support provided by our research team may have had a positive influence on the study participants.
The implications of these findings are discussed.
They were instructed to consume prickly pear fruit twice a day for two weeks and complete SF-36 questionnaire at three-time points: before the intervention (T1), after two weeks of fruit consumption (T2), and after a two-week washout period (T3). Data analysis included descriptive statistics and paired comparisons using nonparametric tests.
The results of the study revealed a notable pattern at T2, where the consumption of prickly pear was associated with a decline in both physical functioning and mental health indices (p≤.01). However, this trend seemed to reverse after the cessation of fruit intake at T3 (p≤.05). Our finding highlights a complex and dynamic interaction between prickly pear consumption and the physical and mental health metrics in FMS patients.
The initial negative impact on these indices, followed by an improvement post-consumption, suggests that the benefits of prickly pear may not be immediate but could emerge over time, potentially leading to a delayed positive effect on the overall quality of life in these patients.
The support provided by our research team may have had a positive influence on the study participants.
The implications of these findings are discussed.
Authors
S. Sberro-Cohen, N. Tel-Zur, E. Keren, J. Grinshpun, L. Zeller, O. Sarid, O. Grinstein-Cohen
Keywords
fibromyalgia, prickly pear, quality of life, inflammation, sustainability
Groups involved
Online Articles (65)