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FISH OILS TREAT RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?
A series of articles in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition show that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, flaxseed and canola oils may be a safe and inexpensive way to control the pain of arthritis.
North Americans spend billions of dollars on nonsteroidal drugs such as Vioxx (removed from the US market in 2004), Celebrex, Motrin, ibuprofen and so forth to help relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. These drugs help block certain prostaglandins in the body that cause swelling and pain. Doctors have known for more than forty years that omega-3 polyunsaturated fats found in many foods also block pain and swelling.
The marked increase in arthritis over the last 100 years may be caused by the Western diet that is loaded with omega-6 vegetable oils such as corn and safflower, that form prostaglandins that increase swelling and pain. However, several research papers show that adding rich sources of omega-3 oils such as in fish, flaxseeds and canola oils, can help relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis.
It takes at least 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day for at least 12 weeks for these oils to relieve pain. To help relieve arthritis pain, reduce intake of omega-6 oils found in prepared foods made with corn and safflower oils and increase your intake of omega-3 oils found in deep-water fish and shell fish, and nuts and seeds such as walnuts, flax seeds and rape seeds. Also see reports #J106 and #J159.
1) MJ James, RA Gibson, LG Cleland. Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory mediator production. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2000, Vol 71, Iss 1, Suppl. S, pp 343S-348S.
2) JM Kremer. n-3 Fatty acid supplements in rheumatoid arthritis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2000, Vol 71, Iss 1, Suppl. S, pp 349S-351S.
3) JJF Belch, A Hill. Evening primrose oil and borage oil in rheumatologic conditions. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2000, Vol 71, Iss 1, Suppl. S, pp 352S-356S.
4) DA Hughes, AC Pinder. n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit the antigen-presenting function of human monocytes. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2000, Vol 71, Iss 1, Suppl. S, pp 357S-360S.
Reported 1/25/00, checked 8/9/05