Fish Oil and Arthritis

Up until 2003, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs, were considered a miracle treatment for arthritis sufferers. NSAIDs, a large family of related drugs that includes aspirin, were enthusiastically prescribed by doctors around the world and used by millions of patients. Not only did NSAIDs provide fast and effective relief for the pain and swelling of arthritis, they also promised fewer side-effects like ulcers and gastric bleeding.

Heal, not harm

By the end of 2003, things had begun to go badly wrong for the pharmaceutical companies behind the latest generation of NSAIDs. Vioxx, a cutting-edge arthritis drug used by an estimated 300,000 Australians, was eventually recalled world-wide by the manufacturer.

The reason for these recalls was that the new generation NSAIDs actually had more serious side effects than older drugs used for arthritis. In wide-ranging studies, the NSAIDs were found to greatly increase the risk of heart disease. How many fatal and near-fatal heart attacks and strokes were caused by these drugs is still unknown.

But where does this leave arthritis sufferers? Luckily, NSAIDs are not the only answer to the pain, swelling and stiffness of arthritis.

The solution from the sea

‘We’ve known for more than 20 years that fish oil supplements can benefit the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.’ Says Professor Les Cleland, head of rheumatology at Royal Adelaide Hospital. But, in contrast with the dangerous NSAIDs, treatment with fish oil has more than one benefit for patients: it’s also great for heart health. Fish oil helps improve cholesterol and triglyceride profiles, early markers of heart problems. ‘Not only do we have better disease control in arthritis patients, we also have a reduction in a number of cardiovascular risk factors.’ Professor Cleland says.

Fish oil improves the health of arthritis sufferers two ways: arthritis symptoms improve and the risk of heart disease decreases. But how many capsules do you have to swallow?

Often people are discouraged from using fish oil supplements because of the large numbers of capsules that need to be taken each day—often 10 or more, which can be inconvenient and expensive. Easy-to-swallow liquid fish oil is now available, so everyone can benefit from the power of fish oil.

But how does fish oil work?

Inflammation is a fascinating example of the human body’s healing ability—a healing ability that sometimes harms. Inflammation is caused by hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. There are a number of different types of prostaglandins, and these different types have different strengths and do different jobs. Some prostaglandins actually help the body heal, by increasing blood flow to a damaged part of the body. Other prostaglandins, particularly the pain-causing type called series-2, are over-produced in diseases like arthritis. NSAIDs block the production of these series-2 prostaglandins.

Another way to stop the effects of series-2 prostaglandins is to increase production of the ‘good’ prostaglandins, particularly a type called series-3. This is done by increasing the raw material the body uses to make series-3 prostaglandins, found in fish oil.

Source - Why Fish Oil is replacing Anti Inflammatory Drugs by Toni Jordan B.Sc. Dip B.A.