BACKGROUND: @entity239 engulfs @entity1 in a downward, reinforcing cycle of unrestorative sleep, chronic @entity158 , @entity1295 , inactivity, and @entity308 . In this study we tested whether a mostly raw vegetarian diet would significantly improve @entity239 symptoms. METHODS: Thirty @entity1 participated in a dietary intervention using a mostly raw, pure vegetarian diet. The diet consisted of raw fruits, salads, @entity10786 juice, tubers, grain products, nuts, seeds, and a dehydrated @entity2247 grass juice product. Outcomes measured were dietary intake, the @entity239 impact questionnaire (FIQ), SF-36 health survey, a quality of life survey (QOLS), and physical performance measurements. RESULTS: Twenty-six subjects returned dietary surveys at 2 months; 20 subjects returned surveys at the beginning, end, and at either 2 or 4 months of intervention; 3 subjects were lost to follow-up. The mean FIQ score (n = 20) was reduced 46% from 51 to 28. Seven of the 8 SF-36 subscales, bodily @entity158 being the exception, showed significant improvement (n = 20, all P for trend < 0.01). The QOLS, scaled from 0 to 7, rose from 3.9 initially to 4.9 at 7 months (n = 20, P for trend 0.000001). Significant improvements (n = 18, P < 0.03, paired t-test) were seen in shoulder @entity158 at rest and after motion, abduction range of motion of shoulder, flexibility, chair test, and 6-minute walk. 19 of 30 subjects were classified as responders, with significant improvement on all measured outcomes, compared to no improvement among non-responders. At 7 months responders' SF-36 scores for all scales except bodily @entity158 were no longer statistically different from norms for @entity1 ages 45-54. CONCLUSION: This dietary intervention shows that many @entity239 subjects can be helped by a mostly raw vegetarian diet.

XXXX improved using a mostly raw vegetarian diet: an observational study.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients', 'people'] @entity308 :: ('MESH:D003866', 'Disease') :: ['depression'] @entity239 :: ('MESH:D005356', 'Disease') :: ['Fibromyalgia', 'fibromyalgia'] @entity2247 :: ('4513', 'Species') :: ['barley'] @entity1295 :: ('MESH:D005221', 'Disease') :: ['fatigue'] @entity10786 :: ('4039', 'Species') :: ['carrot'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain']
@entity239 :: (MESH:D005356,Disease) :: ['Fibromyalgia syndrome']
