Osteoarthritis represents the most common form of arthritis; it afflicts more than 20 million people in the United States, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, and affects both genders equally. Cod liver oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce joint inflammation. Cod liver oil may also arrest the progression of joint and cartilage damage in patients with osteoarthritis, according to recent research.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Cod liver oil is a rich source of the Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, which help minimize the joint inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. According to Donald B. Jump, Ph.D., professor of nutrition and exercise sciences at OSU's Linus Pauling Institute, this occurs because Omega-3 fatty acids inhibit certain inflammatory proteins, known as cytokines. Therefore, cod liver oil supplementation helps to decrease the pain associated with osteoarthritis.
Research
Research demonstrates that cod liver oil supplementation can also slow the progression of osteoarthritis. In a study published in "Drug Discovery Today" in April 2004, researchers from the University of Cardiff in Wales recruited 31 osteoarthritis patients scheduled for total knee replacement surgery; half of the patients received cod liver oil supplements, while the other half received a placebo. The researchers examined the cartilage of the patients three months later and found that 86 percent of those who had taken cod liver oil showed significantly less cartilage damage compared to controls. This research suggests cod liver oil taken early enough may minimize cartilage damage and delay the need for joint replacement surgery in osteoarthritis patients.
Vitamin D
Cod liver oil is also one of the best sources of vitamin D available; one tbsp. of cod liver oil contains 34 mcg of vitamin D. Vitamin D has shown promise as a treatment that reduces the symptoms of osteoarthritis, and low levels of vitamin D often exist in osteoarthritis as well as rheumatoid arthritis patients. In an April 2011 study conducted by Israeli researchers and published in the "Israel Medical Association Journal," researchers found that osteoarthritis patients who supplemented vitamin D experienced a reduction in pain.
Sources
Cod liver oil can be taken both as a liquid and in capsule form. When choosing cod liver oil supplements, look for sources that are wild; farmed sources of cod liver oil tend to have lower levels of EPA and DHA. Also, opt for organic sources wherever possible, and make sure you check to see that the sources are free of mercury.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Osteoarthritis; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; December 2009
- Oregon State University: Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center: Essential Fatty Acids; Donald B. Jump, Ph.D. et al.; April 2009
- News Wise: Human Proof That Cod Liver Oil Can Slow the Onset of Osteoarthritis; February 2004
- Drug Discovery Today: Biological Basis for the Benefit of Nutraceutical Supplementation in Arthritis; C.L. Curtis, et al.; April 2004
- Israel Medical Assocation Journal: Increased Vitamin D Serum Levels Correlate with Clinical Improvement of Rheumatic Diseases After Dead Sea Climatotherapy. M. Harari, et al.; April 2011
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