Effects of deep sea fish oil supplimentation on rheumatoid arthritis patients

Objective To study the effects of deep sea fish oil supplimentation on clinical manifestation and eryth rocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)among Chinese rheumatoid arthritis(RA)patients.Methods In a placebo-controlled,double-blind prospective study,60 RA patients were randomly allocated to consume a daily nutritional supplement of 6 gram oil capsules containing either soybean oil and deepsea fish oil(eicosapentaenoic acidEPA1.8 g+docosahexaenoic acidDHA1.2 g)for 12 weeks.Anthropometry and ESR were measured.Visual analogue scale(VAS),disease activity score(DAS),and health assessment questionnaire(HAQ)were used in the study.Results There were significant differences in intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acid(n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acidn-6 PUFA ,n-3 PUFA,n-6/n-3PUFA,linoleic acidLA,linolenic acidALA,EPA and DHA)between the two groups(P < 0.01 for all).VAS(76.17±2.78)was significantly increased in fish oil group(t=-2.023,P=0.048),while DAS28(3.41±0.13,t=2.434)and ESR 17(7.50,52.00,Z=-2.012)were reduced(P_DAS28=0.018,P_ESR=0.044).Conclusion Fish oil(1.8 g EPA⁺1.2 g DHA)/per day for 12 weeks)is beneficial to patients with RA.Dietary intervention maybe has long-term effects on RA patients.