Evening primrose oil in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and side-effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Abstract

Forty patients with rheumatoid arthritis and upper gastrointestinal lesions due to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs entered a prospective 6-month double-blind placebo controlled study of dietary supplementation with gamma-linolenic acid 540 mg/day. Nineteen patients received active therapy (as evening primrose oil 6 g/day) and 21 received placebo (olive oil 6 g/day). No patient stopped non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy but three patients in each group reduced their dose. Other results showed a significant reduction in morning stiffness with gamma-linolenic acid at 3 months and reduction in pain and articular index at 6 months with olive oil. Whilst gamma-linolenic acid may produce mild improvement in rheumatoid arthritis, olive oil may itself have hitherto unrecognized benefits.

• Authors: M Brzeski, R Madhok, H A Capell
• Journal: British journal of rheumatology (Br J Rheumatol) Vol. 30 Issue 5 Pg. 370-2 (Oct 1991) ISSN: 0263-7103 [Print] England
• PMID: 1913008 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Fatty Acids, Essential
• Linoleic Acids
• Olive Oil
• Plant Oils
• evening primrose oil
• gamma-Linolenic Acid

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (drug therapy)
• Double-Blind Method
• Fatty Acids, Essential (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Gastritis (chemically induced)
• Humans
• Linoleic Acids
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oenothera biennis
• Olive Oil
• Peptic Ulcer (chemically induced)
• Plant Oils (therapeutic use)
• Prospective Studies
• gamma-Linolenic Acid