Osteoarthritis sufferers - Fish oil

Wednesday, 11th January 2012

More Proof that Fish Oil (Omega 3) helps Osteoarthritis sufferers

Osteoarthritis affects about one in six of the population of Ireland and is by far the commonest type of arthritis. It is best understood as a kind of 'wearing out' of the joints, becoming more common as people get older. Many research studies have shown the effectiveness of Omega 3 – the type found in fish oils – in reducing inflammation within the cartilage itself and thereby reducing the pain associated with Osteoarthritis.

Dr. Frank Ryan, the renowned Omega 3 expert, comments, "These studies which found exciting proof of the effectiveness of Omega 3 in easing the pain of osteoarthritis, also introduced an important question - how much fish oil do Osteoarthritis sufferers need to take to get the benefit?" A recently completed survey from Australia and New Zealand, has given a very clear answer to that question.

"These doctors conducted a careful study of the effects of fish oil in 200 patients aged 40yrs+ suffering from osteoarthritis affecting their knees," Dr. Ryan explains, "In particular the study compared the effectiveness of high and low dose fish oil administration in reducing pain and inflammation. They concluded that the patients taking fish oil really did report an improvement in the pain affecting their joints after taking fish oil. But the doctors were surprised to discover that the patients taking the low dose did even better than those taking the high dose of fish oil."

"Indeed the most effective dose of fish oil in this study was the same as you would get from taking an individual portion of canned fish three or four times a week. This natural food, which is relatively cheap and easy to prepare, offers an ideal source of the fish oil that appeared to work best for the patients with osteoarthritis."

Dr. Ryan wrote 'The Brainfood Diet' and was co-author of 'The Eskimo Diet' – two books which pioneered an understanding of the benefits of Omega 3 by lay people. He is an Omega 3 consultant to John West and http://www.brainfood.ie Omega 3 is found in oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and trout.

Osteoarthritis – an explanation

Osteoarthritis is caused by disease or wear of the cartilage that protects the joints. An important component in osteoarthritis is inflammation in the cartilage itself, usually the result of acute or repeated small damage. The cartilage gets thinner and fissured, accompanied by inflammation in the joint, which we feel as pain and stiffness. The pain and discomfort of osteoarthritis can be very severe, often accompanied by a crackling sensation when the joint is moved.

Osteoarthritis tends to affect one or just a few joints - often the big weight-bearing joints, such as the hips or the knees - but it can also affect the spine, and the fingers, thumbs and the joint at the base of the great toe. When very severe, these may need surgical replacement, which can give rise to permanent relief and a new lease of life. However, many people can obtain considerable relief of symptoms from eating oily fish in their diet or from taking fish oil supplements."