Using the Mediterranean diet to help reduce chronic pain in sickle cell disease
Official title: Exploring the Mediterranean Diet as A Promising Approach for Alleviating Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11119059 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether eating a Mediterranean diet can help reduce chronic pain for adults with sickle cell disease, and it involves trying out this diet for four weeks to see how it affects their health and pain levels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 21, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $437,458 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AT013292-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11119059 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with sickle cell disease and experience chronic pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have sickle cell disease or those who do not experience chronic pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how following a Mediterranean diet may help alleviate chronic pain in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). The study will involve a randomized crossover design where participants will follow a Mediterranean diet for four weeks and then switch to their usual diet. Researchers will collect blood and stool samples to analyze changes in gut microbiota and metabolites, which may be linked to pain relief. The goal is to understand the dietary impact on pain management and overall health in SCD patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a dietary approach to significantly reduce chronic pain and improve quality of life for patients with sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have gone: While dietary interventions have shown promise in other populations, this specific approach using the Mediterranean diet for sickle cell disease is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tussing-Humphreys, Lisa — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Tussing-Humphreys, Lisa
Related research
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Understanding and treating chronic pain in sickle cell disease
This study is looking into how sickle cell disease causes chronic pain and aims to find better ways to help manage that pain for people living with the condition.
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Exploring how gut bacteria and inflammation affect pain in sickle cell disease
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might affect pain levels in people with sickle cell disease, with the hope of finding new ways to help manage pain without relying on opioids.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.