Efficacy of fish oil concentrate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Objective. To determine the efficacy of fish oil derived (n-3) fatty acid s upplementation (3-6 capsules/day) in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA ) whose (n-6) fatty acid intake in the background diet was < 10 g/day, comp ared to olive/corn oil capsule supplement over a 15 week period. Methods. A placebo controlled, double blind, randomized 15 week study to de termine the effect of supplementation on clinical variables in 50 subjects with RA whose background diet was naturally low in (n-6) fatty acids. Fish oil containing 60% (n-3) fatty acids was supplemented at a rate of 10 mg/kg body weight. Results. Analysis of 9 clinical variables indicated then was a significant difference (p < 0.02) between control and treatment groups. Five subjects i n the treatment group and 3 in the control group met the American College o f Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria. Dietary supplementation resulted i n a significant increase in eicosapentaenoic acid in plasma and monocyte li pids in the supplemented group. Conclusion. The findings suggest that Fish oil supplementation that deliver s (n-3) fatty acids at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight/day, with dietary (n- 6) fatty acid intake < 10 g/day in the background diet, results in substant ial cellular incorporation of (n-3) fatty acids and improvements in clinica l status in patients with RA.