Considering we eat an average of three meals a day in the U.S., it stands to reason that what we are putting in our bodies day after day may have a big impact on how our body feels. This goes for those who have chronic low back pain, too. Being one of the most common conditions in the country, those with chronic low back pain are always seeking ways to find relief, and there is a possibility that some of that may be found at the end of their fork.
What we consume on a daily basis can have a big impact on how our bodies feel. We need certain nutrients to keep our bodies feeling and moving well, and others to help with keeping our cells healthier and protected. Those who eat unhealthy food likely feel the difference that the food makes in their body and in how they feel. What we eat can also have an impact on chronic low back pain, as reported in a September 2025 study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine [1].
The researchers conducted a review to investigate the role that dietary recommendations in the treatment and prevention of chronic low back pain have on the public. One thing they point out that is significant is that there is a health disparity, and although people may be advised to eat a healthy diet, they may not have access to one. There are barriers to a healthy diet for many people, including factors associated with socioeconomic status, education levels, neighborhood structural design, etc. In order to address this, they advise that nutritional health equity must be a top priority, so that everyone will have access to healthy food to help with their conditions.
In other research on dietary patterns in relation to chronic low back pain, a study published in the Nutrition Journal reviewed several types of major dietary patterns [2]. In this study, researchers report that chronic low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal pain that affects a person’s daily activities. They looked at several major diets, including a high-protein one, a vegetarian one, and an energy-dense diet, and then scored them to determine which style of eating helped more with chronic low back pain.
The research found that a high-protein diet was the most effective at addressing chronic low back pain. The high-protein diet they evaluated included meat, legumes, nuts, and eggs. They report that adequate protein intake is one of the main factors in maintaining muscle strength, and those who ate a high-protein diet had a significant decrease in chronic low back pain. Those who ate unhealthy diets, or energy-dense diets, had more low back pain. Those who consumed a vegetarian diet didn’t have a change in chronic low back pain, but they note that the diet does contain high levels of antioxidants that have an anti-inflammatory effect that can reduce the pain threshold, and can reduce musculoskeletal pain.
This article was originally published on Confronting Chronic Pain by Dr. Steven Richeimer.
References
- American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. The Role of Nutrition in Low Back Pain: A Narrative Review and Clinical Implications. September 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40908980/
- Nutrition Journal. Major dietary patterns in relation to chronic low back pain. May 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9097067/
