Fish oils and rheumatoid arthritis. a randomized and double-blind study
Faarvang, K.L.; Nielsen, G.L.; Thomsen, B.S.; Teglbjaerg, K.L.; Hansen, T.M.; Lervang, H.H.; Schmidt, E.B.; Dyerberg, J.; Ernst, E.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 156(23): 3495-3498
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 8066866 Document Number: 425006
The effect of dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) on disease variables in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis was evaluated in a multicentre, randomized and double blind study. Fifty-one patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were included from three Danish hospital Departments of Rheumatology. The patients were allocated to 12 weeks of treatment with either six n-3 PUFA capsules (3.6 g) or six capsules with a fat composition averaging the Danish diet. Small but significant improvements in morning stiffness, joint tenderness and C-reactive protein were observed. There were no serious side-effects. Dietary supplementation with n-3 PUFA in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis has a modest effect on three out of eight disease variables, without effect on other traditional parameters for monitoring disease activity.