THE ROLE OF NUTRITION IN MANAGEMENT OF JOINT DISORDERS ACCORDING TO IRANIAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Introduction: Joint disorders are considered a major burden in our health system. The annual cost of managing various joint problems in the society is remarkable. The exact role of nutrition in management of joint disorders in modern medicine is not clear. On the other hand, Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) has various dietary plans for a range of joint problems that can even have therapeutic effects on the disease. In this article different types of foods and diets for various joint problems were introduced according to major references of ITM. Method: A number of major ITM references were reviewed to explore dietary approach towards rheumatologic problems. The data regarding the food instructions in each disease were collected. A search in PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and some other Databases up to July 2016 was done to obtain related modern medical data about this field Result: According to the specific disease and the type of humor involved as well as the stage of the disease, Persian medical books present a wide view regarding foods, fruits and drinks which, by adjusting the temperament, can control the disease process. Conclusion: The use of diet in ITM plays an important role in the management of joint disorders. According to the nature of the disease the type of foods and drinks can vary. On many occasions the adjustment of food intake as a part of lifestyle management can have therapeutic effect in joint complaints. In the future, more research regarding specific dietary instructions for a variety of joint disorders is needed. Keywords: Diet, Nutrition, Joint, Osteoarthritis, Iranian Traditional Medicine, Persian Medicine