A study recently published in the journal Arthritis suggests that a plant-based diet may reduce joint pain and improve functional status in osteoarthritis patients.  This six-week, prospective randomized open-label study (n=40) looked at the effects of a whole-foods, plant-based diet as compared with a control omnivorous diet on self-reported symptoms and measures of functional status in patients with osteoarthritis.  Participants in the intervention group were instructed to eliminate dairy, eggs, and meat from their diets, and were encouraged to eat whole, unrefined plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains.  Beneficial clinical results were seen in as little as two weeks after starting the intervention diets.

Clinton CM, O’Brien S, Law J, Renier CM, Wendt MR. Whole-foods, plant-based diet alleviates the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Arthritis. 2015;2015:708152. doi: 10.1155/2015/708152.