Fibromyalgia is a medical condition characterized by long-term, widespread body pain. The pain typically involves joints and tendons, but muscles and other soft tissues may be involved. Anxiety, depression, sleep problems and other issues may accompany the pain of fibromyalgia. An anti-inflammatory diet may be helpful for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Omega-3 fatty acids, which exert anti-inflammatory effects, play a part in this diet. Before starting any new treatment, talk to your health specialist.
Anti-inflammatory Diet
Inflammation produces pain, and food influences inflammation by several mechanisms. Foods high in antioxidants decrease the amount of inflammation in the body and may have the same effect on pain. Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E are present in a variety of fruits and vegetables. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids inhibit inflammation and may reduce the amount of pain suffered in fibromyalgia. The anti-inflammation diet also emphasizes the complete avoidance of trans fats, which are present in margarine and vegetable shortenings and are also called partially hydrogenated vegetable oil on ingredient lists.
Omega-3 and Inflammation
Omega-3 is a type of fatty acid that plays a role in the inflammatory process. In contrast to omega-6 fatty acids, which give rise to proinflammatory substances such as arachadonic acid, omega-3 fatty acids serve as precursors to compounds that reduce the amount of pain experienced. Examples of omega-3 fatty acids include ALA, DHA and EPA.
Omega-3 Sources
Cold water fish, including salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring and albacore tuna, are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oils are sources of both DHA and EPA. Other omega-3 sources, such as flaxseed, walnuts, leafy green vegetables, algae, soybeans and hemp seed, provide large amounts of ALA. However, this type of omega-3 requires special enzymes before they have a beneficial effect on pain and inflammation, and some people lack sufficient quantities of these enzymes. A simple blood test can measure your body's enzyme level. Talk to your doctor.
Considerations
For the treatment of active pain, 2 to 4 g of fish oil per day is recommended. It can take from six weeks to six months for a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids to noticeably diminish the pain associated with fibromyalgia. During this time, decreasing the amount of omega-6 in your diet may help, as omega-6 opposes the effects of omega-3 and promotes pain. Omega-6 is present in animal products such as meat and dairy products, in addition to many vegetable oils, including olive oil and corn oil.
References
- PubMed Health: Fibromyalgia
- "Integrative Medicine"; David Rakel; 2007
Member Comments