Omega-3 and Arthritis

We've all heard of it, and seen it prominently displayed as being present in certain brands of margarine and even milk and eggs, but what is omega 3?

Omega 3 is good for treating many conditions, from heart disease to asthma and even some forms of cancer. It is also an excellent natural defence against certain types of inflammatory arthritis.

This is because omega 3 contains essential fatty acids (EFA's). The most important EFA's are called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are the building blocks that our body uses to produce resolvins. The resolvins work in the blood to increase the production of proteins that have anti-inflammatory properties and decrease the ones that promote inflammation.

We cannot produce resolvins ourselves and can only get them through eating fish or other items containing omega 3. The best sources of omega 3 are found in fish, and salmon, mackerel and tuna are excellent sources. Interestingly fish do not naturally produce omega 3. It is a by-product of eating algae.

This means that there is the potential to introduce omega 3 into the vegetarian diet. The best sources of vegetarian omega 3 are plant oils especially flaxseed oil, nuts and seeds such as walnuts and pumpkin seeds and dark green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach. The omega 3 from vegetarian sources is not as effective as that found in fish oil and an omega 3 supplement may need to be taken too.

Unfortunately not every form of arthritis is suitably treated with omega 3, but if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) the following information may be of interest to you.

Research conducted by Dr. Gail Darlington of the Epsom General Hospital and Dr. Trevor Stone of the University of Glasgow and at the Albany Medical College has shown that rheumatoid arthritis sufferers taking regular omega 3 supplements were having less joint pain and morning stiffness with some users being able to reduce or stop taking NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) altogether.

Research at Bristol University found that osteoarthritis sufferers taking omega 3 have a reduced rate of pain. This is because omega 3 slows down the loss of collagen, the protein responsible for cartilage health. When cartilage is lost the bones rub together and cause pain.

In Belfast studies into systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and omega 3 found that disease activity was significantly reduced in those taking omega 3 supplements.

As well as being found naturally in fish, seeds, plant oils, nuts and dark green vegetables, omega 3 can be bought as supplements from health food stores or chemists.

Ensure that your source of supplements is reliable as cheap and poor sources may contain traces of mercury, arsenic, cadmium or lead. Also ensure that EPA and DHA are present as omega 3 containing ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) has to be converted within the body to produce EPA and DHA and is not as effective.

Do not confuse omega 3 fish oils with fish liver oil. They are totally different and have different properties. It is also important before taking any supplements to ask your GP if it is safe to do so.