Written by Chrystal Moulton, Staff Writer. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis show 31% improvement in joint health with fish oil.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease affecting about 1 of 5 people in the US. (1) Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) generally experience inflammation and pain in affected joints due to the presence of inflammatory species in their bloodstream.(2) Research into treatments for RA has demonstrated positive effects of omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil and EPA/DHA) supplementation.(2) Studies also show that high amounts of another fatty acid known as arachidonic acid (an omega-6), which is naturally present in our cell membranes and certain foods, can increase the symptoms and severity of RA.(2,3) In the current study (3), researchers wanted to investigate the effects of a low arachidonic acid diet combined with fish oil supplementation on the symptoms and severity of RA.
The trial was designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study lasting 8 months. Sixty-eight patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis were recruited to the study. Patients were randomized to either an anti-inflammatory diet with considerably less meat and more vegetable consumption (<90mg arachidonic acid) or western diet. Within each group, patients were randomized to receive either fish oil or placebo for the first 3 months, after which was a 2-month washout period. Following the washout period, within each diet group, patients receiving fish oil were switched to placebo and vice versa. Blood samples as well as pain and disease severity assessment (evaluated through questionnaires and clinical visits) was done at baseline and monthly to the end of the trial. Patients continued to use RA medications at a consistent dose as well as pain medication as needed during the trial.
A total of 62 patients completed the trial. Patients in the anti-inflammatory diet experienced a reduction in tender and swollen joints and overall improvement in disease severity. Individuals on the anti-inflammatory diet expressed a significant decrease in pain after 3 months with and without fish oil supplementation (p<0.05). Patients in the anti-inflammatory diet consumed on average 49.0 ± 12.6mg/day of arachidonic acid compared to 171.7 ± 42.2 mg/day in the western diet group (p<0.001). Overall, improvement in joint health was on average 14% with the anti-inflammatory diet and 31% with added fish oil supplementation (p<0.05). The western diet with added fish oil saw a 17% improvement in joint health (p<0.001). Furthermore, researchers found that 38% of patients on the anti-inflammatory diet supplemented with fish oil experienced 20% overall improvement from baseline scores (p<0.01).
In all, anti-inflammatory diet low in arachidonic acid supplemented with fish oil significantly improved symptoms of RA.
Source: Adam, Olaf, et al. “Anti-inflammatory effects of a low arachidonic acid diet and fish oil in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.” Rheumatology international 23.1 (2003): 27-36.
© Springer-Verlag 2003
Posted May 27, 2014.
Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.
References:
- Arthritis-Related Statistics. Center for Disease Control (CDC). Accessed 5/23/14.
- James MJ, et al. Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory mediator production. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Jan;71(1 Suppl):343S-8S.
- Adam O, et al. Anti-inflammatory effects of a low arachidonic acid diet and fish oil in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int. 2003 Jan;23(1):27-36. Epub 2002 Sep 6.
