Fish Oil and Arthritis: Scientific Research
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Omega-3 Reduces Joint Tenderness and Morning Discomfort
Health Condition: Rheumatoid arthritis
Summary:
- Study confirms that taking Omega-3 supplements reduces joint tenderness
- Omega-3 also reduces morning joint stiffness
- 3000 mg of Omega-3 daily is necessary for these benefits
- This dose was found to reduce pain-causing Leukotriene B4 and Interleukin 1
- With fish oil supplements, patients may be able to reduce or even discontinue their prescription pain-killers
Number of Omegavia softgels needed to see study’s benefit: 3 per day.
Authors & Title: Kremer JM. Omega-3 Fatty acid supplements in rheumatoid arthritis.
Published in: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2000: 71(1): 349S-351S.
View Study at U.S. National Library of Medicine
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10617995
Study Supports Use of Fish Oil to Fight Arthritis Pain
Health Condition: Rheumatoid arthritis
Summary:
- The authors report that EPA from fish oil can offset the negative effects of bad fats in our diets
- EPA Omega-3 also reduces the amount of pain-causing molecules called cytokines
- The authors believe there is ample evidence to use fish oil as a normal part of fighting arthritis
Number of Omegavia softgels needed to see study’s benefit: 2 per day.
Authors & Title: Calder P, Zurier R. Polyunsaturated fatty acids and rheumatoid arthritis.
Published in: Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, Mar 2001; 4(2): 115-21
View Study at U.S. National Library of Medicine
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11224655
People with Arthritis at Greater Risk of Heart Disease – Omega-3 Reduces Risk
Health Condition: Rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease
Summary:
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at greater risk of heart disease
- Over a course of 3 years, patients taking fish oil had much lower risk of heart disease
- Patients taking EPA Omega-3 had 40% less risk factors
- Fish oil reduced the need for pain-killers by 75%
Number of Omegavia softgels needed to see study’s benefit: 2 per day.
Authors & Title: Cleland LG, Caughey GE, James MJ, Proudman SM. Reduction of cardiovascular risk factors with long term fish oil treatment in early rheumatoid arthritis.
Published in: Journal of Rheumatology, 2006: 33(10): 1973-1979.
View Study at U.S. National Library of Medicine
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16881100
Omega-3 from Fish Oil Reduces Inflammation and Offsets Negative Effects of Bad Fats
Health Condition: Arthritis, asthma and inflammation
Summary:
- This study explores how EPA Omega-3 ‘bumps’ Omega-6 out and reduces pain
- EPA from fish oil is responsible for reducing inflammation
- Less inflammation translates to less arthritis pain
- Since asthma is inflammation-related, EPA Omega-3 can also help reduce asthma symptoms
Number of Omegavia softgels needed to see study’s benefit: 1 – 2 per day.
Authors & Title: Calder PC. Dietary modification of inflammation with lipids.
Published in: Proceedings of the Nutrition Soc, 2002: 61(3): 345-358.
View Study at U.S. National Library of Medicine
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12296294
Omega-3 from Fish Reduces Joint Pain while Omega-6 Makes Pain Worse
Health Condition: Arthritis (Osteo and Rheumatoid)
Summary:
- This study defines how Omega-3 works on a cellular level to ease pain
- The study confirmed that Omega-3 from fish oil reduced pain
- And Omega-6 made the pain worse
Number of Omegavia softgels needed to see study’s benefit: 1 – 2 per day.
Authors & Title: Curtis CL, Rees SG, et al. Effects of n-3 fatty acids on cartilage metabolism.
Published in: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2002: 61(3): 381-389
View Study at U.S. National Library of Medicine
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12230798
Study Says Fish Oil is Alternative To Prescription Pain Killers
Health Condition: Neck, joint and back pain
Summary:
- This study says that fish oil is an alternative to over-the-counter and prescription pain-killers
- 250 patients took 1200 mg of Omega-3 per day
- 59% stopped taking their pain medications after they started taking fish oil
- 80% said they were satisfied with the improvement
- 88% said they would continue taking fish oil
- The study found that Omega-3 was as good as Ibuprofen in reducing pain
Number of Omegavia softgels needed to see study’s benefit: 1 – 2 per day.
Authors & Title: Maroon JC, Bost JW. Omega-3 Fatty acids (fish oil) as an anti-inflammatory: an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for discogenic pain.
Published in: Surgical Neurology, 2006: 65(4): 326-331.
View Study at U.S. National Library of Medicine
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16531187
Scientists Explain Why Fish Oil is Not More Widely Used for Arthritis
Health Condition: Arthritis
Summary:
- This publication claims that Omega-3 from fish reduces inflammation
- Omega-3 also suppresses cartilage-destroying enzymes
- Authors explain that fish oils are not popular arthritis treatment because “fish oils do not provide industry with the opportunities for substantial profit associated with patented prescription items”
Number of Omegavia softgels needed to see study’s benefit: 1 – 2 per day.
Authors & Title: Cleland LG, James MJ, Proudman SM. The role of fish oils in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Published in: Drugs, 2003: 63(9): 845-853.
View Study at U.S. National Library of Medicine
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12678571
Norwegians Taking Cod Liver Oil Experience Less Joint Pain
Health Condition: Joint pain, arthritis
Summary:
- This study looked at 4490 Norwegians who took cod liver oil
- The study’s simple conclusion was that patients felt less pain if they took cod liver oil
- Of the patients, those with arthritis showed the most reduction in pain
Number of Omegavia softgels needed to see study’s benefit: 1 – 2 per day.
Authors & Title: Eriksen W, Sandvik L, Bruusgaard D. Does dietary supplementation of cod liver oil mitigate musculoskeletal pain?
Published in: Europen Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1996: 50(10): 689-693.
View Study at U.S. National Library of Medicine
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8909937
May 7th, 2012 at 5:00 am
i have chronic knee pain, could you tell me what i should take. thanks.
May 7th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
Hi Dave – Omega-3 can definitely help reduce the inflammation in your knees, if that’s what’s causing the pain. I would aim for 2,000 mg of Omega-3 per day and see if you notice a difference. That may be a few more pills than you wish to take, but that’s the dosage where, I think, you’ll notice a difference. Hope this helps.
- Vin Kutty