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Relationship between total fruit and vegetable intake and self-reported knee pain in older adults

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

An Erratum to this article was published on 11 February 2021

This article has been updated

Abstract

Objectives

Knee pain is one of the most common symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA) that affects the quality of life in the older adults, and identifying the contributing factors of knee pain is important. We hypothesized that higher fruit and vegetable consumption might be associated with the severity of knee pain lower prevalence of severe knee pain by affecting pain perception in the knee joint. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between self-reported knee pain and the consumption of fruits vegetables, carotenoids and vitamin C and self-reported knee pain.

Design

Nationally representative cross sectional study.

Setting

2010-2011 rounds of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Participants

A total of 6588 subjects aged ≥50 years were participated.

Methods

Severity of knee pain was estimated using a 10-point numeric rating scale (NRS). Daily intake of fruits, vegetables, and vitamins were estimated using data from 24-hour recalls and food frequency questionnaires.

Results

The NRS scores of knee pain decreased significantly with increasing fruit and vegetable intake quartiles. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the fourth quartile of vegetable and fruit consumption was associated with decreased prevalence of severe knee pain (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.48-0.73) compared with first quartile of vegetable and fruit consumption; however, carotenoids and vitamin C consumption was not associated with the severity of knee pain.

Conclusions

In conclusion, severe knee pain was independently associated with fruit and vegetable consumption. Our findings suggest that intake of whole fruits and vegetables may help improve knee pain in older adults.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Spine Center and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Medical Center, 245 Euljiro, jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    H. S. Han

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Boramaero5, 20, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    C. B. Chang

  3. Department of Family Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, 250 Seongsanno, Seodaemun-gu, 120-752, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    D.-C. Lee

  4. Department of Family Medicine, CHA University College of Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, Chaum Life Center, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Sungnam-si, Republic of Korea

    Jee-Yon Lee

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  1. H. S. Han
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Correspondence to Jee-Yon Lee.

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Han, H.S., Chang, C.B., Lee, DC. et al. Relationship between total fruit and vegetable intake and self-reported knee pain in older adults. J Nutr Health Aging 21, 750–758 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0842-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0842-7

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