Omega-3 fatty acid may have role in rheumatoid arthritis management

Eating more omega-3 fatty acid could be a promising new area of disease management for people with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a group of experts.

Western diets tend to be low in omega-3 fatty acids and high in omega-6 fatty acids. We know that omega-6 fatty acids have mainly pro-inflammatory features, while omega-3 fatty acids seem to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Now a new analysis of the data published in Lipids in Health and Disease has found that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation does represent a promising therapeutic option to better control many features of rheumatoid arthritis.

“[Omega-3 fatty acid] supplementation could represent a promising therapeutic option to better control many features of rheumatoid arthritis,” the group explains. “The impact of [omega-3 fatty acids] on radiographic progression and synovial histopathology has not been yet evaluated, as well as their role in early arthritis and the combination with biologics.”

Good dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acid include flax, sardines, mackerel, salmon and eggs.

Click here to read the original research.

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