Someone once said if you haven't experienced arthritis you simply aren't living life to its fullest. Well at least the anonymous author got a weekend pass from whatever mental institution he was in. Arthritis and particularly rheumatoid arthritis can be quite painful and even debilitating and anyone who has it wishes they would have taken steps to avoid it or at least reduce its impact. But what about arthritis fish oil supplementation. Could it help? Could arthritis fish oil supplementation be used in addition to my current medications? What is the suggested amount of arthritis fish oil supplementation required? These are both questions we will strive to answer but first let's briefly talk a little about arthritis.
Arthritis is generally defined as inflammation of a joint, which causes localized pain, swelling, and stiffness. The most common type is osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, which involves changes in the joint cartilage as a result of aging or use. Rheumatoid arthritis on the other hand is an autoimmune disease which is a more serious, systemic form of arthritis, which may affect the heart, lungs, and eyes, as well as the joints. The suspected cause is a yet unidentified virus that stimulates the immune system to wreak havoc.
You are probably saying would you please get on with it! My joints hurt and I would like to know whether arthritis fish oil supplementation could help. OK, I hear you!
The vast majority of research seems to focused on the use of omega 3 fatty acid supplementation. This includes fish oil which is the highest source of the two primary omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. A summary of the results concluded that arthritis fish oil supplementation seems to reduce tenderness, decrease morning stiffness, and allow for a reduction in the amount of medication needed for people with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The daily dose used in the studies ranged from 1000 to 2000 mg of DHA/EPA per day. This is higher than the 900 mg number suggested by the AMA and the NIH. So consult your doctor first before taking the big leap to high dose arthritis fish oil supplementation.
Additionally, there seems to be a correlation between the imbalance of omega 3 and omega 6 in those with inflammatory disorders such as osteoarthritis. In fact, several test tube studies of cartilage containing cells have found that omega 3 fatty acids decrease inflammation and reduce the activity of enzymes that destroy cartilage. Omega 6 causes inflammation and is found in large amounts in red meat.
In summary, there seems to be good evidence that arthritis fish oil supplementation can benefit those with arthritic conditions by reducing overall inflammation. One of the benefits of this natural form of supplementation is that it can be combined with anti inflammatory drugs as well as most other arthritis medications.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of fish oil or learn more about a high quality DHA fish oil worth considering click here.
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