Researchers followed 205 older adults for two years to see how changes in what they eat affect their pain levels. They found that people who ate more fish experienced less pain, with pain scores dropping by about 4 points on a 10-point scale. Interestingly, people who drank more coffee reported more pain—their scores went up by about 6-7 points. While these findings are interesting, scientists caution that more research is needed before making major dietary changes based on this study alone.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether eating more fish or drinking more coffee changes how much pain older adults experience over time
  • Who participated: 205 healthy older adults who were tracked for two years, with measurements taken at the start and end of the study
  • Key finding: Eating more fish was linked to less pain (about 4 points lower on a 10-point pain scale), while drinking more coffee was linked to more pain (about 6-7 points higher)
  • What it means for you: If you’re an older adult dealing with pain, increasing fish intake might help reduce discomfort. However, you may want to monitor how much coffee you drink, as increasing intake appears connected to more pain. These findings suggest dietary changes could matter, but talk to your doctor before making major changes to your diet.

The Research Details

This was a longitudinal observational study, which means researchers followed the same group of people over time and observed what happened naturally—they didn’t assign people to eat more or less fish and coffee. The 205 older adults reported how often they ate fish and drank coffee at the beginning of the study and again two years later. Researchers then looked at how changes in these eating habits connected to changes in pain levels measured on a simple 0-10 pain scale.

The researchers were careful to account for other factors that might affect pain, including age, sex, depression, how people rated their overall health, and whether they were taking pain medications. This helps isolate the effect of fish and coffee from other influences on pain.

This type of study is useful for spotting patterns in real life, but it can’t prove that eating fish causes less pain—only that the two seem connected.

Observational studies like this are valuable because they show what actually happens in people’s everyday lives over extended periods. Rather than asking people to change their diet in a controlled setting, researchers watched how natural changes in eating habits connected to pain changes. This approach helps identify dietary patterns worth studying more carefully in future research.

The study’s main strength is that it followed real people over two years, which is long enough to see meaningful changes. However, readers should know that this study can only show associations—connections between two things—not proof that one causes the other. The researchers adjusted for several important factors that could influence pain, which strengthens the findings. The sample size of 205 is moderate, and the study only included healthy older adults, so results may not apply to everyone.

What the Results Show

The most striking finding was about fish consumption. When older adults increased how much fish they ate compared to eating less fish, their pain scores dropped by an average of 4.45 points on the 10-point scale. This difference was statistically significant, meaning it’s unlikely to have happened by chance. Even when comparing increased fish intake to no change in fish eating, there was still a meaningful 2-point reduction in pain.

The coffee findings went in the opposite direction. When people increased their coffee drinking compared to drinking less coffee, their pain scores rose by about 6.56 points—a substantial increase. Compared to people who didn’t change their coffee habits, those who drank more coffee reported about 2.83 more points of pain. Both of these increases were statistically significant.

These findings suggest that dietary choices may play a role in how much pain older adults experience. The effect sizes are meaningful—a 4-point drop or 6-point increase on a 10-point pain scale represents a noticeable difference in how someone feels day-to-day.

The study controlled for depression severity, which is important because depression and pain often occur together and can influence each other. The researchers also accounted for changes in how people rated their overall health and their use of pain medications. These adjustments help ensure the fish and coffee findings aren’t simply reflecting other health changes happening at the same time.

Previous research has suggested that fish, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, may help reduce inflammation in the body—a process linked to chronic pain. This study adds to that evidence by showing the connection over a two-year period in older adults. The finding about coffee is more surprising and less well-established in the research literature, suggesting this area needs more investigation to understand why increased coffee intake might be associated with more pain.

This study has several important limitations. First, it only shows associations, not cause-and-effect relationships—we can’t say that fish definitely reduces pain or that coffee definitely increases it. Second, the study only included healthy older adults, so results might not apply to people with serious health conditions or younger age groups. Third, the study relied on people self-reporting how much fish and coffee they consumed, which can be inaccurate. Finally, the researchers couldn’t account for all possible factors that might influence pain, such as exercise levels, stress, or sleep quality.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, older adults experiencing pain might consider increasing fish intake as a potential dietary strategy (moderate confidence level). This aligns with broader health recommendations about fish consumption. Regarding coffee, if you notice that increased coffee intake seems connected to more pain, reducing consumption may be worth trying (lower confidence level, as this finding is less established). These suggestions should complement, not replace, medical advice from your healthcare provider.

This research is most relevant to older adults dealing with chronic pain who are looking for dietary approaches to manage discomfort. It may also interest healthcare providers working with older populations. People who are healthy and pain-free don’t necessarily need to change their fish or coffee intake based on this single study. Anyone with specific health conditions, those taking medications that interact with fish or caffeine, or people with fish allergies should consult their doctor before making dietary changes.

If you decide to increase fish intake or reduce coffee consumption, you shouldn’t expect immediate pain relief. The study tracked changes over two years, suggesting that dietary benefits develop gradually. Most people would likely notice changes within weeks to months, but patience is important when making dietary adjustments.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly fish servings (aim for 2-3 per week) and daily coffee cups consumed, alongside pain ratings on a 0-10 scale. Record these three data points together to identify personal patterns.
  • Set a specific goal such as ‘Add one fish meal per week’ or ‘Reduce coffee from 3 cups to 2 cups daily,’ then use the app to log actual intake and pain levels to see if your personal experience matches the research findings.
  • Create a monthly pain trend report that compares your fish and coffee intake to pain scores. Look for patterns over 4-8 weeks to determine if dietary changes are affecting your individual pain experience, since responses vary from person to person.

This research shows associations between dietary changes and pain levels but does not prove cause-and-effect relationships. Individual responses to dietary changes vary significantly. Before making substantial changes to your diet, especially if you have existing health conditions, take medications, or have food allergies, consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian. This information is educational and should not replace professional medical advice. If you experience severe or worsening pain, seek immediate medical attention.