The essential fatty acids called omega-3 fatty acids are frequently taken in the form of fish oil and have been linked to a variety of health benefits, including improvement in joint health, neurological protection and prevention of heart disease. You can use fish oil to help ease symptoms of joint pain caused by a range of joint disorders. Fish oil is generally considered safe in doses up to 3g per day, according to the U. S. Food and Drug Administration.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated fats, consist of a chain of carbon atoms with two or more single bonds somewhere along the chain. The three main omega-3 fats are eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA. They are considered essential fatty acids because the body cannot manufacture omega-3 on its own. The body can convert ALA into DHA and EPA, but the process is inefficient for many people, so ingesting EPA and DHA is a more effective way to get these two vital fats.
Fish Oil
Fatty fish, including mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon are the main dietary sources of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Most fish oil capsules contain oil from salmon. A typical fish oil capsule contains 180mg of EPA and 120mg of DHA.
Joint Problems
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the joints, causing pain, swelling, stiffness and tenderness in the affected area. Osteoarthritis, a condition in which the cartilage in joints breaks down, causing pain and loss of function, is another joint condition that fish oil may ease. Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBS, and painful menstruation, or dysmenorrhea, are additional causes of joint pain that may be affected by fish oil.
Effects
People with rheumatoid arthritis who take a daily dose of 2.7g of fish oil containing both EPA and DHA found relief from pain and tenderness of their joints in three meta-analyses looking at the effects of fish oil on joint health, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. The patients taking fish oil also had a reduced need for pain relief in the form of corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs.
Considerations
If you're taking fish oil supplements for joint pain, you may need to wait up to 12 weeks to notice effects, notes the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil only seem to affect the symptoms of joint pain, not stop or slow the progression of the disease, so medications to treat the underlying problem may also be necessary.
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