Clinical and biochemical effects of dietary fish oil supplements in rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

In a double blind noncrossover study, dietary supplementation with fish oil (18 g/day), was compared with an olive oil supplement over a 12-week period in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving established conventional therapies. An improvement in tender joint score and grip strength was seen at 12 weeks in the fish oil treated group but not in the olive oil treated group. The more subjective measures of mean duration of morning stiffness and analogue pain score improved to a similar extent in both groups, although statistical significance was only achieved in paired analyses in the olive oil treated group. Production of leukotriene B4 by isolated neutrophils stimulated in vitro was reduced by 30% in the fish oil treated group and unchanged in the olive oil treated group.

• Authors: L G Cleland, J K French, W H Betts, G A Murphy, M J Elliott
• Journal: The Journal of rheumatology (J Rheumatol) Vol. 15 Issue 10 Pg. 1471-5 (Oct 1988) ISSN: 0315-162X [Print] Canada
• PMID: 2849682 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Dietary Fats, Unsaturated
• Fish Oils
• Triglycerides
• Leukotriene B4

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (blood, diet therapy, physiopathology)
• Dietary Fats, Unsaturated (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Fish Oils (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Food, Fortified
• Humans
• Leukotriene B4 (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neutrophils (metabolism)
• Pain Measurement
• Random Allocation
• Triglycerides (blood)