Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 04, 2026 22 hours ago
Medical News: A new international study is shedding light on how everyday eating habits may quietly influence a popular medical treatment made from a person’s own blood. The research suggests that what people eat could affect inflammation related substances inside platelet rich plasma, a therapy increasingly used for joint and tissue problems.
Diet choices may subtly shape the inflammatory signals inside platelet rich plasma therapies
Diet and a Popular Regenerative Treatment
Platelet rich plasma, often called PRP, is created by spinning a patient’s blood to concentrate platelets that release healing and signaling proteins. Doctors commonly use it for knee pain, sports injuries, and early arthritis, yet results vary widely from patient to patient.
This
Medical News report highlights a new study that explored whether long-term diet choices could be one hidden reason for these differences.
Who Conducted The Study
The research was carried out by scientists from the Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery at University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein in Kiel Germany, the Orthopedic Research Center at Kiel University Germany, and the Department of Orthopedics at Heidelberg University Hospital Germany.
How The Study Was Done
Researchers examined 75 healthy adults aged 18 to 35. Participants followed one of three diets for at least six months: vegan, vegetarian or omnivorous. Blood samples were collected and processed using a standardized method to produce leukocyte poor platelet rich plasma.
Scientists carefully measured blood cell counts and several important signaling proteins including IL-6, IGF-1, HGF and PDGF-BB. These substances play roles in inflammation and tissue repair.
Key Findings Explained Simply
The study found that basic blood cell numbers like platelets and red blood cells were similar across all diet groups. Even inside the platelet rich plasma itself cell counts remained mostly unchanged regardless of diet.
However, differences appeared at the molecular level. Levels of IL-6 a protein linked to inflammation were significantly lower in people following vegan diets compared to those eating omnivorous diets. People with higher intake of animal-based foods showed higher IL-6 levels even after accounting for age sex and body weight.
Interestingly growth factors linked to tissue repair did not differ strongly between diet groups overall. Yet deeper analysis showed that meat intake was linked to higher PDGF-BB levels while higher fruit and vegetable intake was associated with lower PDGF-BB. The relationship between platelets and growth factors was strongest in omnivores suggesting diet may subtly influence how platelets release healing signals.
Why This Matters For Patients
PRP treatments are made from a patient’s own blood so personal factors matter. These finding
s suggest diet could influence the inflammatory balance of PRP even if cell counts look the same. Lower IL-6 levels in plant-based eaters may point to a more anti-inflammatory PRP profile though this study does not prove cause and effect.
Study Limitations to Know
The researchers stress this was an observational study in young healthy adults. It did not test whether changing diet alters PRP outcomes in real patients. Dietary intake was self-reported and only a limited set of proteins was measured.
Conclusions
This study suggests that long-term dietary patterns may influence the molecular makeup of platelet rich plasma especially inflammation related signals like IL-6 while leaving overall blood cell counts unchanged. The findings raise the possibility that diet could partly explain why PRP treatments work better for some people than others. Larger and interventional studies are needed to confirm whether dietary changes before PRP therapy can meaningfully improve healing outcomes and consistency in clinical practice.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nutrients.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/1/163
For the latest on diets and platelet rich plasma, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/diets-and-nutrition
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