April 3, 2008 – Cod liver oil may help patients with arthritis pain reduce their reliance on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Scottish researchers say1.
NSAIDs are the most widely prescribed drugs for the relief of pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Most of the 58 people who participated in the study were taking either ibuprofen, diclofenac, or naproxen.
According to the results, 39% of subjects who took cod liver oil were able to reduce their NSAID intake by 30%, compared to only 10% of patients who took the placebo. The researchers conducted two other trials in which cod liver oil reportedly gave similar results. They attribute this anti-inflammatory effect to the omega-3s in the oil.
For nine months, the subjects took either 10 g per day of cod liver oil in capsule form or an identical placebo. From the fourth month, patients were asked to reduce their consumption of NSAIDs or to stop their medication altogether if they were able to do so.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to BBC News.
1. Galarraga B, Ho M, et al. Cod liver oil (n-3 fatty acids) as an non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug sparing agent in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2008 Mar 24.
