Old-fashioned cod liver oil can benefit arthritis sufferers
28/03/2008
No doubt many Mature Times readers will remember being given a daily spoonful of cod liver oil as a child - whether you liked it or not. But it seems that mother really knew best, because it has properties that can protect you from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) - according to recent research from the University of Dundee.
A study led by Professor Jill Belch and published in the journal Rheumatology has shown that people taking a cod liver oil supplement could cut their reliance on anti-inflammatory drugs by more than 30%. Ninety-seven patients with RA who took anti-inflammatory NSAIDs were given either 10g of cod liver oil containing 2.2g of n-3 (omega-3) essential fatty acids, or "dummy" pills over a period of 36 weeks.
Out of 49 patients in the cod liver oil group, 39% were able to cut their daily NSAID requirement by more than 30% at the nine month point, compared to just 10% in the placebo group.
The authors said: "Our main objective was to assess whether RA patients were able to reduce their NSAID intake without any worsening of their disease activity, and this was achieved in all of the clinical parameters studied."
The findings are important at a time when there are increasing concerns about adverse events associated with NSAID use. Professor Belch commented: "This study offers hope to many rheumatoid arthritis patients for whom cod liver oil supplements can offer a natural pain management treatment without the harmful side effects associated with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. It reinforces previous research that has shown cod liver oil, and its high content of omega-3 essential fatty acids, to have significant anti-inflammatory properties in patients with rheumatoid arthritis."
Rheumatoid arthritis affects around 350,000 people in the UK, with women more likely to be affected than men. It is an auto-immune disease which causes pain, swelling and inflammation in the joints and can leave people feeling generally unwell and tired. Rheumatoid arthritis also puts sufferers at higher risk from strokes and heart attacks.