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In the news: Pickle Juice & Muscle Cramps; Pesticides in Fruits & Veggies

Pickle Juice for Muscle Cramps in Cirrhosis

Muscle cramps in people with cirrhosis (liver disease) are common and painful, and treatment options are limited. According to the results of a new study(1), taking small swallows of pickle juice when cramping first starts may be a simple way to reduce the severity of those cramps.

In the 28-day randomized, controlled trial, 82 participants with cirrhosis were assigned to sip either tap water or pickle juice (about 1 tbsp from any dill or kosher pickle product) at the start of cramping.

Those in the pickle juice group had a reduction in the severity of those cramps by 2.25 points compared to just a fraction of a point reduction (0.36 points) for the water group. More patients in the pickle juice group (69%) also reported that the treatment stopped their cramping vs. the water sippers (40%).

The researchers saw no adverse effects with pickle juice. They found no difference in weight changes in the two groups for example, indicating that the pickle juice was not contributing to ascites – a buildup of fluid in the abdomen caused by cirrhosis.

How might pickle juice work? Lab study results suggest that the acetic acid (vinegar) in pickle juice stimulates a nerve reflex (via transient receptor potential or TRP channels) in the back of the mouth and throat. Triggering these channels is thought to send signals to the brain and spinal cord that interrupts electrical activity involved in cramping.

Is there a danger of getting too much salt? Pickle juice is high in sodium which could be a problem for those with high blood pressure and those with heart failure who retain fluid. So, it’s a good idea to check with a doctor first if you have health problems and want to try pickle juice as a remedy.

However, the tbsp. of pickle juice tested in the study doesn’t provide much sodium – only about 25 mg. Also, since it is the acetic acid and not the salt in pickle juice that seems to be responsible for the beneficial effect, it might be reasonable to try a tbsp. of vinegar as an alternative, though vinegar has not been studied for cirrhotic cramps.

Finally, would pickle juice work for other types of cramps, such as nighttime cramping? While this hasn’t been studied, it’s likely that trials in other groups besides those with cirrhosis will be conducted in the future. For healthy people with exercise-related cramping or nighttime cramping, a tbsp of pickle juice might be worth a try.

Pesticides in Produce

Every year the Environmental Working Group (EWG)(2), a nonprofit organization, releases a report ranking the top twelve nonorganic fruits and vegetables found to have the most pesticide residues – the “Dirty Dozen”. They also put out a list of the 15 “cleanest” fruits and vegies – nearly 70% of which had no detectable pesticide residues.

EWG uses data from 46 fruits and veggies tested by the US Dept. of Agriculture and the FDA. These agencies test food samples in the way people usually eat them: Produce with edible skin like apples are rinsed; Produce with inedible skins such as avocados are peeled.

Consider buying ‘organic’ for those on the “Dirty Dozen” list if possible. However, if ‘organic’ is too costly or unavailable, keep in mind that all foods on that list had pesticide levels that were low and within the limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Bottom line: the many health benefits of eating plenty of fruits and veggies outweigh the risk of pesticide exposure.

The “Dirty Dozen”: Strawberries, spinach, kale/collard/ mustard greens, nectarines, apples, grapes, bell and hot peppers, cherries, peaches, pears, celery, and tomatoes.

The “Clean 15”: Avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, onions, papaya, sweet peas (frozen), asparagus, honeydew melon, kiwi, cabbage, mushrooms, cantaloupe, mangoes, watermelon, and sweet potatoes.

References

1. Tapper EB, et al. Pickle Juice Intervention for Cirrhotic Cramps Reduction: The PICm CLES Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Gastroenterol. Ahead of print April 23, 2022.
2. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php