Effects of antioxidant consumption on physical rehabilitation variables and quality of life in people with osteoarthritis: Protocol for a systematic review with meta-analysis

<ns3:p> Introduction Antioxidants have emerged as potentially beneficial options. Present in both foods and supplements, these molecules can neutralize free radicals and modulate inflammatory processes, both of which are implicated in the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis. Although the results of antioxidants have been promising, the current evidence remains heterogeneous and sometimes inconsistent. Therefore, it is necessary to integrate and critically analyze the available data. Objective This systematic review protocol with meta-analysis aims to describe the methodology necessary to analyze the effects of antioxidant intervention compared with usual medical care on pain, physical function, and quality of life in people with osteoarthritis. Methods In conducting this literature synthesis, a comprehensive search will be executed across the Medline databases via PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, ScienceDirect, and EBSCO to identify randomized clinical trials that satisfy the predetermined eligibility criteria. Primary outcomes, including pain, physical function, and quality of life, and secondary outcomes, such as clinical modifications, will be analyzed. The quality of the selected studies will be evaluated using the ROB-2 risk of bias tool, and the certainty of the evidence will be assessed through the GRADE method. A meta-analysis will be conducted using either a fixed- or random-effects model, depending on the degree of heterogeneity. Heterogeneity will be assessed using the I <ns3:sup>2</ns3:sup> statistic. If the outcome assessment method is homogeneous, the mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval will be utilized; otherwise, the standardized mean difference (SMD) will be employed to calculate the effect size. Discussion Osteoarthritis imposes a substantial clinical and socioeconomic burden, and antioxidants are increasingly recognized as potential adjuvants owing to their safety and anti-inflammatory properties. The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis based on this protocol will aid in determining the extent of the impact of antioxidant consumption in pertinent clinical practice. <ns3:bold>PROSPERO registration:</ns3:bold> CRD420251035393 </ns3:p>