Omega 3 Fatty Acids Reduce Risk of Osteoarthritis – And Also Treat Symptoms
A study from Duke University just published in the Annals of Rheumatic Disease showed that in mice, feeding them omega 3 fatty acids slows the progression of arthritis. This animal study seems to confirm earlier studies that also showed the benefit of omega 3 fatty acids for arthritis. Another study was published in 2011 by the University of Bristol, in the UK . Lead researcher Dr. John Tarlton, claimed at the time that their research showed that omega-3 in fish oil could “substantially and significantly” reduce the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis.
“Furthermore, there was strong evidence that omega-3 influences the biochemistry of the disease, and therefore not only helps prevent disease, but also slows its progression, potentially controlling established osteoarthritis,” he said. That was also an animal study, feeding guinea pigs an omega 3 rich diet which then reduced osteoarthritis by a whopping 50%. These studies need to be followed by more human study, but given all of the science which already exists regarding numerous benefits of eating more omega 3 fatty acids than the average Western diet includes, ingesting more omega-3s is good advice which need not wait specifically for human studies on osteoarthritis. Food sources of omega 3s are fish, flax seeds and oil, vegetable oils, nuts, grape leaves and capers .