Omega 3 For Rheumatoid Arthritis

About 1.29 million Americans were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as of 2005, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 2004 study in the journal "Health and Quality Life Outcomes" found that the disease often interferes with work, leisure, and social activities. If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, omega-3 fatty acids may help.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an Autoimmune Disease

Chronic inflammation of the synovial tissue of joints become stiff, painful, and deformed as the body's immune system attacks healthy joint tissue it perceives as foreign. Periods of remission and exacerbation may occur in some, while others experience a constant progression that leads to debilitation and irreversible damage and destruction of the joints. The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is typically directed at reducing pain and inflammation.

EPA and DHA for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that the body cannot produce endogenously; dietary intake is the only way to obtain them. Eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexanoic acid are omega-3s obtainable from marine sources, such as fish and algae and their supplement counterparts. A review by Dr. Artemis Simopoulos published in 2002 in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition" reported that patients with rheumatoid arthritis responded to EPA and DHA by decreasing elevated cytokine levels that are responsible for inflammation.

Use Omega-3 as a Complementary Therapy

Glucocorticoid, prednisone, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunosupressive drugs such as methotrexate are the primary pharmacologic agents used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. These drugs, however, have many side effects, including an increased risk of osteoporosis, glucose intolerance, weight gain, peptic ulcers and esophagitis. While omega-3 fatty acids cannot replace your rheumatoid arthritis medications, a review by M. Massaro and researchers published in 2008 in the "Journal of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics" concluded that omega-3 fatty acids should be considered as a complementary therapy to traditional pharmacologic treatments. This may allow lower medication doses and, consequently, fewer side effects.

Megadoses of Omega-3 May Help

Two to three months of daily doses of 2,600 to 7,100 mg from EPA and DHA is the average time and dosage before you would experience anti-inflammatory effects, according to Leslie Cleland and researchers, who outlined their study in a 2003 edition of the medical journal "Drugs." However, ingesting megadoses of any supplement can be dangerous. If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, it is important to follow the advice of your medical doctor to manage your disease.