The research, conducted by Queen Mary, University of London and Harvard Medical School, explains that the body converts DHA, an Omega-3 fatty acid found in fish, into another chemical called Resolvin D2.

Resolvin D2 creates a chemical signal which discourages white blood cells from sticking to the inner lining of the blood vessels, which in a source of the inflammation which causes RA.

The research also suggests that Resolvin D2 could be the basis for a new treatment for diseases including sepsis, stroke and arthritis. Unlike other anti-inflammatory drugs, this chemical does not seem to suppress the immune system.

According to UK team lead Mauro Perretti, Professor of Immunopharmacology at Queen Mary, University of London, “We have known for some time that fish oils can help with conditions like arthritis which are linked to inflammation. What we’ve shown here is how the body processes a particular ingredient of fish oils into Resolvin D2. We’ve also looked in detail at this chemical, determining at least some of the ways it relieves inflammation. It seems to be a very powerful chemical and a small amount can have a large effect.”

“This research is important because it explains at least one way in which fish oils can help in different types of arthritis. We can also work on this chemical and see if it can be used not only to treat or even prevent arthritis, but also as a possible treatment for a variety of other diseases associated with inflammation.”

Results of the research were published in the October 28, 2009 issue of Nature.

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Well known physicians in the nutrition field, including Barry Sears of The Zone diet and Andrew Weil, have said that an anti-inflammatory diet is actually ideal for maintaining good health. An anti-inflammatory diet can reduce blood triglycerides and blood pressure, reduce heart disease risk, keep existing cardiac conditions in check, and soothe stiff and tender arthritic joints.

So what is an anti-inflammatory diet? It depends on who you ask. According to Dr Christopher Cannon, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and co-author of “The Complete Idiots Guide to The Anti-Inflammation Diet”, it is very close to the Mediterranean diet.

Dr. Sears, who has also written “The Anti-Inflammation Zone”, says that an anti-inflammatory diet is The Zone diet with fish oil. The Zone diet recommends low-fat protein, carbs and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.

Common recommendations of most of the anti-inflammatory diets are:

Most people believe that inflammatory diseases end in ‘itis i.e., rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, colitis, appendicitis. But there are many other conditions that are linked to inflammation such as Crohn’s disease, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, various cancers, and even Alzheimer’s disease.

Anti-inflammatory diets will take longer to have an effect than anti-inflammatory medications. Generally, it will take a few weeks to experience a noticeable difference. However, following an anti-inflammatory diet will not only improve symptoms in conditions like arthritis, it will also improve overall health and contribute to achieving, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Originally posted 2008-09-13 18:53:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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This led to the question of whether cod liver oil supplements could reduce the need for potentially dangerous non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen. High doses of NSAIDs have been linked to increased risk of heart-attack, high blood pressure, stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding.

New research shows that use of cod liver oil supplements may allow RA patients to cut their use of pain medications by more than 30%.

Researchers from Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee and the University of Dundee studied 97 RA patients who took NSAIDs to manage their pain.

The participants were divided into 2 groups. One group received 10 grams of cod liver oil which contained 2.2 grams of Omega-2 EFA. The other group received a placebo. The research team analyzed the NSAID dosage taken, and measurements of the RA disease activity at 12, 24 and 36 weeks.

At 12 weeks the patients were instructed to gradually reduce, or even stop, their use of NSAIDs.

After 36 weeks, 39% of the group taking cod liver oil were able to reduce their NSAID intake by more than 30%. They also reported no significant increase in their level of pain.

Alternatively, only 10% of the placebo group were able to reduce their NSAID intake by more than 30%.

One drawback to the cod liver oil supplement was the high dosage required for the study, equivalent to about 10 capsules a day. As a result, some of the participants dropped out of the study before it was completed.

The research team was led by Professor Jill Belch from Ninewells Hospital. Their findings were published in the journal Rheumatology.

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The first question is does the body utilize fish oil from dietary supplements as efficiently as from eating fish?

One small study involving 23 women measured the absorption of the 2 key components of omega-3 EFAs: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In this study, 11 women ate 2 servings of tuna or salmon per week. The other 12 took omega-3 supplement capsules containing the same amount of omega-3’s, estimated to be 485 milligrams a day.

After 16 weeks, the omega-3 EFA level in the red blood cells of both groups has risen by 40 to 50 percent. In addition, the omega-3 level in the plasma of both groups had risen by 60 to 80 percent.

Based on this study it would appear that getting your omega-3 from a dietary supplement is as beneficial as from eating fish.

The next question is how much omega-3 is needed to receive relief from rheumatoid arthritis symptoms?

There have been some studies that have suggested that a minimum of 2 grams a day to achieve some benefit. One 3-year open study, published in the Journal of Rheumatology, involving 73 patients with early RA included omega-3 supplementation of 4 to 4.5 grams a day. The participants were checked at 3 and 6 weeks, then every 3 months for the 3 year period of the study. The final results showed that patients who consumed high doses of fish oil were able to lower or discontinue their use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and the proportion of patients in remission after 3 years was greater in the fish oil group (72%) than the non-fish oil group (31%).

There have also been studies that suggest that taking low-dose aspirin, such as taken by those to reduce risk of a heart attack, magnifies the anti-inflammatory effect of taking fish oil.

On top of this, the concern about the potential for high levels of mercury in fish may be reason enough to get the benefits of fish oil through a supplement.

Which supplement is the best? ConsumerLab.com did an analysis of omega-3 supplements and found that none had unsafe contaminants.

Eskimos consume large amounts of oily fish and have a low prevalence of RA. You don’t have to have the diet of an Eskimo. Omega-3 supplements are readily available.

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