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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Dec 24;17(1):11.
doi: 10.3390/nu17010011.

Effectiveness of the SYNCHRONIZE + Brief Intervention in Improving Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Nutritional Quality and Intake Pattern in Persons with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Noèlia Carrasco-Querol  1 , Lorena Cabricano-Canga  2   3 , Nerea Bueno Hernández  1 , Carme Martín-Borràs  1   4   5 , Alessandra Queiroga Gonçalves  1   6 , Anna Vila-Martí  7 , Blanca Ribot  7 , Judit Solà  7 , Carme Valls-Llobet  8 , Rosa Caballol Angelats  4   9 , Pilar Montesó-Curto  4   9   10 , Elisabet Castro Blanco  1 , Macarena Pozo Ariza  1 , Sandra Carreres Rey  4   9 , Laura Pla Pagà  4   9 , Mònica Dearos Sanchís  11   12 , José Fernández-Sáez  1   13 , M Rosa Dalmau Llorca  4   9 , Carina Aguilar Martín  1   14
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effectiveness of the SYNCHRONIZE + Brief Intervention in Improving Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Nutritional Quality and Intake Pattern in Persons with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Noèlia Carrasco-Querol et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background: Multidisciplinary lifestyle interventions are being researched to treat fibromyalgia. However, the impact of nutrition as a key treatment component is little studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the SYNCHRONIZE + lifestyle multidisciplinary intervention in improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet, nutrition quality and dietary intake pattern in persons with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Methods: A pragmatic randomized clinical trial was conducted in primary care. Data were collected using the 17-item energy-restricted Mediterranean Adherence Screener (er-MEDAS), the food frequency questionnaire (sFFQ) and the 24 h recall questionnaire (24 HR), in addition to chrono-nutritional, anthropometric, and body composition data, at baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12- month follow-up visits, and statistically analyzed.

Results: A total of 158 participants were evaluated. Results showed the effectiveness of the intervention in improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet. The adherence depended on the group-time interaction being positive and significant at 3 and 6 months post-intervention in the INT group and on the participant age and educational level. Specifically, the intake of legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts and blue fish was increased, while the intake of sweets and pastries, butter and cream and red and processed meat was reduced. Furthermore, the intake of chips and candies was also reduced, and the consumption of fermented food (yogurts, cheese, kefir) increased. Thus, general diet quality improved. Interestingly, the intake of key nutrients such as protein and iron increased. Furthermore, the number of night eaters was decreased significantly. Muscle mass index was also improved in the intervention group. These results were maintained in the medium to long term.

Conclusion: SYNCHRONIZE + is a brief, low-cost, multidisciplinary intervention effective in improving adherence to the Mediterranean diet and improving nutritional and dietary intake patterns in persons with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Further evaluation of the effect on quality of life and symptoms is needed.

Keywords: chronic fatigue syndrome; dietary patterns; fibromyalgia; mediterranean diet; nutritional intervention; nutritional quality.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Intervention details on nutrition and chronobiology.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sample flowchart of the study.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Total er-MEDAS score evolution in the study groups.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Levels of er-MEDAS adherence evolution in the study groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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