Omega-3 fatty acids show promise when it comes to the treatment of chronic conditions caused by inflammation. These include rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, among others. However, research is limited as of 2011, and dietary supplements are not safe for everyone. Always talk to your doctor before taking any type of vitamin or supplement, including omega-3s.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are some of the essential fatty acids we do not make in our bodies. Getting them through diet or supplement form is vital for the body's function. Omega-3s are found in fish, plant and nut oils. According to MayoClinic.com, some of the most important omega-3s include docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA; eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA; and alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA. Some rich sources of these fatty acids include cold water fish, soybeans, flax seed and olives. As of 2011, omega-3 fatty acids are being researched for their potential role in reducing inflammation, which is the cause of many chronic health conditions.
Omega-3s and Inflammatory Arthritis
The most common type of joint pain is arthritis. In particular, omega-3s have been studied for their role in joint pain control for those with rheumatoid arthritis, or RA. However, certain other chronic health conditions related to inflammation can cause joint pain, including lupus and irritable bowel syndrome, many of which may also respond positively to regular omega-3 supplements. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, all of the above conditions may show improvements when fish oil or other omega-3 supplements are taken in addition to their usual anti-inflammatory medications. However, the research is currently incomplete.
Dosing
According to MayoClinic.com, most adults get only around 1.6g of omega-3s from their diets, and of this less than 20mg is DHA and EPA. Yet, MedlinePlus recommends 380mg of EPA and 200mg of DHA daily for inflammatory arthritis treatment. You can get this by taking a fish oil supplement, which can be found in the vitamin aisle of your local supermarket. However, not just any supplement will do: they come in different sizes, and may vary in their ratio of DHA to EPA. Also, unless advised to do so by your doctor, the UMMC recommends taking no more than 3g of fish oil daily. You may need to do a little math to choose a supplement that can provide the appropriate mix of DHA and EPA while keeping your overall fish oil intake under the recommended limit.
Precautions
Even though some studies show those with joint pain need less pain medication when taking fish oil, do not stop taking your anti-inflammatory pain medication unless advised to do so by your doctor. That said, you should also talk to your doctor before even starting on a fish oil supplement. The research is still preliminary. In addition, fish oil may not be a long-term solution: per MayoClinic.com, the use of fish oil in RA treatment has not studied the effects after the first three months. Other conditions such as lupus and inflammatory bowel disease have also had mixed results.
Member Comments