Does fish oil help arthritis?

I wonder if any of you reading this remember having to take a daily dose of cod liver oil to improve your health? My mother certainly can, and she remembers dreading each morning having to swallow a large spoonful- it certainly didn't feel  as if it was improving her health at the time as she generally felt queasy for the next hour!

Managing the symptoms of arthritis is an on going  daily discipline and  many arthritis charities recommend different ways that you can help yourself manage your symptoms. Apart from taking your medication,  regular exercise and  a balanced diet  are also key to reducing your pain.

However a study recently published  in Australia has hi-lighted the benefits  of taking fish oil along with regular therapy for early onset rheumatoid arthritis. It has already been determined that fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids which can help to reduce inflammation and pain associated with RA and as result patients were able to reduce their intake of anti- inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen.

The study from the University of Adelaide set out to determine whether  fish oil had even more benefits  for its disease modifying capabilities and not just for its effects on reducing joint swelling and pain.

Patients in the early onset of RA (less than 12 months) were divided into two groups, one was given a high dose of fish oil and another a low dose. In addition patients also received more conventional medication and were monitored by their doctors.

However, increasing the amount of times you eat fish will not provide enough fish oil to have a therapeutic effect, the author of the study recommends that the necessary dosage be taken in the form of a supplement.

Results showed that the patients who went into remission from the disease with the treat-to- target approach, and took the high dose of fish oil also  needed fewer steps and fewer DMARDs to control their disease.. The reason, according to the study was that omega-3 fatty acids acted  like anti-inflammatories  in the body. 

Whilst the study does not recommend replacing DMARD therapy with fish oil, it suggests that supplementing it with  fish oil could be helpful particularly as it can reduce the use of  anti-inflammatory drugs.

You may also know that Omega 3 fatty acids help support the cardiovascular and circulatory systems in the body - conditions that are at increased for those with rheumatoid arthritis.

The fortunate news for my mother and those like her is that today fish oil comes in easy to swallow capsules  such as Eskimo Brainsharp ,and even if you prefer to take the oil in liquid form at least Eskimo 3 comes in a pleasant lemon or lime flavour.

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