Can Omega-3 Fatty Acids help sufferers of Rheumatoid Arthritis? Specifically, can people with Rheumatoid Arthritis take fewer anti-inflammatory drugs if they take more natural Omega-3s?
That’s what researchers at Scotland’s Dundee and Edinburgh Universities were curious to learn more about.
Procedures and Key Findings:
- Half the subjects were given 10 grams of cod liver oil daily (delivering 2.2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids), and half were given a placebo
- At baseline, and again at weeks 4, 12, 24, and 36, researchers checked each subject’s daily use of NSAIDs and RA activity
- At week 12 each subject was instructed to gradually reduce or even stop anti-inflammatory use if possible
- Nearly 40 percent of subjects in the cod liver oil group were able to reduce anti-inflammatory use by at least 30 percent
- 10 percent of subjects in the placebo group were able to reduce anti-inflammatory use to the same level
Lead researcher Professor Jill Belch with the Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee, Scotland says:
“This study offers hope to many Rheumatoid Arthritis patients for whom Cod Liver Oil supplements can offer a natural pain management treatment without the harmful side effects associated with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. It reinforces previous research that has shown Cod Liver Oil, and its high content of Omega-3 essential fatty acids, to have significant anti-inflammatory properties in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.”
{ 1 trackback }
{ 0 comments… add one now }