Diet is an important modifiable risk factor for chronic disease. Recent evidence shows that dietary interventions can improve chronic pain intensity and quality of life. However, precise mechanisms are not well understood.
PANTRY is a pilot randomised controlled trial, testing a personalised anti-inflammatory nutrition intervention in adults attending a multidisciplinary chronic pain service. The anti-inflammatory intervention will involve behavioural change to improve diet quality, by decreasing consumption of highly processed foods and food or drink with added sugars and increasing consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed whole foods including fruit and vegetables. The control group will be encouraged to continue eating as usual. Financial support will be provided for purchase of recommended foods in the intervention group and usual foods in the control group. The intervention has potential to reduce inflammation and pain intensity, and to improve quality of life. If the intervention is successful, there is the possibility of translation to models of care across the pain management sector.
The planned PANTRY trial is part of Dr Hayes’ PhD, ‘A study of nutrition to reduce inflammation in chronic pain’
Dr Chris Hayes, Dr Katherine Brain, Dr Hema Rajappa, Ms Laura Bruggink, Hunter Integrated Pain Service, Newcastle, Dr Bronwyn Berthon, Professor Lisa Wood, The University of Newcastle, NSW.
The project was awarded A$32,834 funding through the ANZCA research grants program for 2026.