More About Arthritis and Fish Oil

The type of fish oil which is used for the supplements is important. Research has found that salmon, mackerel, halibut, tuna and herring, all of which are cold water fish, produce the best omega-3 fatty acids to produce an anti-inflammatory effect in the body. Researchers believe that you cannot get enough of the omega-3 fatty acids from eating foods alone and must use dietary supplementation. However, not everyone should take these supplements. For instance, individuals who are on an anticoagulant therapy program will find that omega-3 fatty acids and fish oil will impact their clotting times. Pregnant women should not take these supplements because of the danger of mercury poisoning to the baby.

As with all supplements that you may consider in order to reduce the pain and inflammation from your arthritis, you must consult with your primary care physician or rheumatologist. While they may be dietary supplements, they are still chemicals which you are putting into your body and can cause either side effects or interactions with other medications you are already taking. Your rheumatologist will be able to help you with these questions and your pharmacist will be able to tell you if there is any drug interactions with any medications you’re currently on.

Arthritis can be a seriously debilitating disease. The good news is that recent research has discovered there are excellent natural products, including omega-3 fish oils, that help to treat the pain and discomfort for individuals who are suffering from arthritis. As research continues to develop and discover a variety of ways of treating this inflammatory process there continues to be hope on the horizon for those who suffer on a daily basis.

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