Evaluation of Ultra-Processed Food Intake and Inflammatory Dietary Pattern in Adults With Fibromyalgia Syndrome. A Case-Control Study
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Background: Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a chronic disorder marked by widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Recent studies suggest that low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress play key roles in FMS pathophysiology. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs), high in inflammatory ingredients, may exacerbate these mechanisms. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between UPF intake and inflammatory dietary patterns in FMS patients compared to healthy controls. Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study was conducted with 89 participants: 45 FMS patients and 44 healthy controls. The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee of the Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Canarias (CHUC_2024_27). Data collection took place from January 17, 2025 to April 9, 2025. Dietary intake was assessed using the NOVA classification system for UPF consumption and the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) for inflammatory dietary patterns. Symptoms were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Results: FMS patients consumed significantly more UPFs (34.5%) than controls (26.7%) (p < 0.001). FMS participants also reported higher pain (VAS: 6.8 ± 1.9) and fatigue (FSS: 5.1 ± 1.1) compared to controls (VAS: 1.2 ± 0.5, FSS: 4.8 ± 1.0). Inflammatory dietary patterns were more pronounced in FMS patients, who consumed higher levels of saturated fats (29.4 ± 6.1 g/day vs. 24.8 ± 5.7 g/day; p = 0.02) and lower levels of anti-inflammatory nutrients like magnesium (240.5 ± 36.7 mg/day vs. 278.9 ± 40.2 mg/day;p < 0.001) and vitamin C (58.2 ± 12.9 mg/day vs. 74.6 ± 13.5 mg/day; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results suggest that higher UPF consumption and a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern are associated with increased pain and fatigue in FMS patients. Reducing UPF intake and improving dietary quality could be beneficial in managing FMS symptoms.