Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Dietary Supplementation With Blueberry in OA

Knee osteoarthritis causes pain and can severely impact quality of life, and we lack treatments to stop its progression. We know inflammation plays a key part. Blueberries are packed with natural compounds that can reduce inflammation. This study aims to find out if taking a blueberry supplement before and after knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis can actually slow down joint damage, not just improve symptoms. Fifty-eight people will take either a blueberry supplement or a dummy pill for six weeks before and after their knee operation. We'll examine joint tissue taken during surgery for signs of inflammation and check if the supplement helps with symptoms and speeds up recovery from the surgery. This research could show that adding blueberries to your diet might help manage osteoarthritis and improve post-surgery recovery.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Exeter

Enrolment target

Start

22 May 2023

Estimated completion

01 Sep 2027

Knee Osteoarthritis

What is this study about?

Knee osteoarthritis is a common and often painful condition where the protective cartilage in your joints wears down over time. This leads to stiffness, swelling, and difficulty moving, seriously affecting daily life. Currently, there's no cure, and while treatments like physiotherapy and weight loss can help manage symptoms, doctors are always looking for new ways to slow down the disease or prevent further damage. One key factor in osteoarthritis is ongoing inflammation within the joint. This inflammation is a complex process involving various parts of the joint, such as the cartilage and fatty tissues, and many 'signaling' proteins that tell the body to react. Whilst we've tried to target these proteins with medicines, it hasn't worked well so far.

That's where blueberries come in! Blueberries are rich in natural chemicals called polyphenols, which are known to have anti-inflammatory effects. Researchers think that these compounds might help reduce the inflammation in arthritic joints. While some studies suggest that eating blueberries or other fruits might improve osteoarthritis symptoms, we don't fully understand exactly how this happens. This study aims to dig deeper, specifically looking at whether blueberry supplements can reduce the inflammation inside the knee joint itself. By studying joint tissues during surgery, we hope to understand if blueberries can do more than just relieve symptoms – perhaps even slow down the progression of joint damage.

Additionally, high levels of inflammation in the joint before surgery are linked to a slower and harder recovery after a knee replacement. This study will also explore whether taking a blueberry supplement could potentially speed up recovery from total knee replacement surgery. By focusing on people who are already scheduled for knee replacement, the study can gather important information about how blueberries affect both the disease process and the recovery period, potentially offering a simple, dietary way to improve outcomes for people with osteoarthritis.

Key takeaways

This study investigates if blueberry supplements can help knee osteoarthritis.
It aims to see if blueberries reduce joint inflammation and improve symptoms.
The study also looks at how blueberries might affect recovery after knee replacement surgery.
Participants will take a blueberry or dummy supplement for 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after surgery.
Scientists will examine joint tissue during surgery for signs of inflammation.
The goal is to understand if blueberries can slow down joint damage and improve overall outcomes.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for people who are getting ready to have a total knee replacement operation because of osteoarthritis. You need to be able to understand the information about the study and agree to take part. Both men and women over 40 years old can join. Your body mass index (BMI) should be 18 or above. You can be part of other studies that involve surgery, but not if those studies involve special diets or medicines.

There are some reasons why you wouldn't be able to join. For example, if you've taken strong medicines that affect your immune system (like immunosuppressants) in the last two years, or if you've had a steroid injection in your knee in the past six months. We also can't include people with certain other joint problems that might affect how we measure inflammation, like rheumatoid arthritis or specific bone conditions. If you eat a lot of berries (like blueberries, strawberries, or cherries) – more than eight normal-sized portions a week – or if you have a serious fruit allergy that needs an EpiPen or other urgent treatment, you won't be able to take part. Finally, you need to be able to understand information given in English.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you scheduled for a total knee replacement due to osteoarthritis?
Are you 40 years old or older?
Can you understand information in English and give your consent to participate?
Have you avoided strong immune-suppressing medicines in the last 2 years?
Have you not had a steroid injection in your knee in the last 6 months?
Do you consume less than eight servings of berries/cherries weekly?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to join this study, we'll ask you to take either a blueberry powder supplement or a dummy supplement (placebo) every day for six weeks before your knee replacement surgery. You won't know whether you're taking the real blueberry supplement or the dummy one. You will then continue taking the supplement for another six weeks after your surgery. During your knee replacement surgery, the surgeons will take small tissue samples (like tiny pieces of cartilage, fat, and joint lining) that would normally be removed during the operation, so this won't change your surgery itself. We will use these samples to look at markers of inflammation. We will also ask you to complete some questionnaires to assess your osteoarthritis symptoms and how you are recovering from your surgery. The total duration of your active participation, including before and after surgery, will be about 12 weeks.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could potentially offer some benefits, though these are not guaranteed. If blueberries do help reduce inflammation, you might experience better osteoarthritis symptoms before surgery or a quicker recovery afterwards. However, it's also possible you could receive the dummy supplement and not experience any direct benefits related to blueberries. The risks involved are generally low, as blueberries are a common food. We will be taking tissue samples during your knee surgery, but these are tissues that would be removed anyway, so it doesn't add extra risk to your operation. Like with any study, you are free to stop taking part at any time without giving a reason, and this decision will not affect your medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Royal Devon University Hospital
Verified postcode
Honiton, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a long-term joint condition where the protective cushion (cartilage) at the ends of your bones wears away, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling, most commonly in the knees, hips, and hands.

What are polyphenols?

Polyphenols are natural chemicals found in plants, like blueberries. They are known for having healthy effects, including reducing inflammation in the body.

Will I know if I'm getting the blueberry supplement or the dummy pill?

No, you won't know. To make sure the study results are fair and accurate, some participants will receive the blueberry supplement and some will receive a dummy pill, and neither you nor the researchers will know who got what until the study is over. This is called a 'blinded' study.

What happens if I decide I don't want to continue with the study?

You are free to leave the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care or your relationship with your healthcare team.

Will taking part in this study change my knee surgery?

No, taking part in this study will not change your knee replacement surgery itself. The tissue samples taken are parts that would normally be removed during the operation.