Arthritis and Fish Oil

Arthritis is a generic term that describes over 100 different medical conditions. All of these conditions will cause inflammation in the musculoskeletal system. At this point a definitive cause for the development of most of these arthritic conditions has not been found. However, researchers and doctors do have specific treatment protocols which help individuals to decrease pain, inflammation and improve their function. (1) One of the treatments which individuals and physicians have experimented with are fish oil supplements.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fatty fish, both fresh water and salt water varieties. Research over the past decade has found that both Omega six and Omega three fatty acids are considered essential. This means they are essential to human health and cannot be made in the body. For this reason they must be obtained from the food. Together, they play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development.

There has been data from a few randomized double controlled studies that have demonstrated a beneficial effect to individuals who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and use a dietary fish oil supplement. In many of these studies the patients were able to decrease the amount of other medications they use in order to control their inflammation. And in one study the researchers found that combining fish oil with olive oil could also enhance the anti-inflammatory effects. (2,3,4)

However, while researchers do know that Omega three fatty acids from fish oil will decrease the inflammatory process in the body, and therefore cause reduced pain and swelling in individuals who suffer from some forms of arthritis, there has also not been any evidence that it reduces the progression of the disease. Omega-3 fatty acids also lowered triglycerides, reduce blood pressure and protect against cardiovascular disease. (5)

References:

(1) The Journal of Rheumatology: Collateral Benefits of Fish Oil Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis

http://www.jrheum.com/subscribers/06/10/1931.html

(2) Arthritis and Rheumatism: Effects of high-dose fish oil on rheumatoid arthritis after stopping nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Clinical and immune correlates

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7639807

(3) Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease

http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1146941