Osteoarthritis: do omega-3s help fight it?
Osteoarthritis: help from omega-3s
Omega-3s could slow the progression of the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis. Laboratory mice given Omega-3 supplements have healthier joints than those on a diet high in saturated fatty acids and Omega-6. More than body weight gain, therefore, the aggravation of the disease depends on 'diet and the type of fats consumed.
This was reported in a recent study, published in the journal Annals Of Rheumatic Disease, by researchers at Duke University in Durham, USA.
A degenerative joint disease
Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that generally strikes after the age of 45, and is characterized by degeneration of the cartilage found in the joints. Obesity is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis, although the exact link between this condition and the disease has not been fully elucidated. According to scientists, weight gain would promote joint wear and tear, although arthritis can affect the hands and other districts that are not affected by body weight.
The type of fatty acid influences the course of disease
Early in the study, the researchers focused their attention on factors that can promote the disease, finding that deficiency of the appetite hormone, leptin, can also promote its onset. During the experiments, 4-week-old mice were fed different diets. One low in fat, one high in saturated fatty acids, one high in Omega-6 polyunsaturates, and a fourth high in Omega-6 polyunsaturates and supplemented with Omega-3 supplements.
After 12 weeks, the researchers induced joint trauma to the animals' meniscus. Indeed, arthritis is due in 10-15% of cases to mechanical trauma. Each animal was monitored at 6, 14 and 24 weeks of age, examining wound healing and bone changes, so as to reveal the influence of fatty acids, and body weight on osteoarthritis.
The results showed that 'disease onset was significantly associated with diet but not with body weight. Small amounts of Omega-3 had been sufficient to attenuate joint damage, while animals fed only high concentrations of saturated fatty acids or Omega-6 showed significant worsening of osteoarthritis.
The researchers also examined the ability of the same animals to heal from injuries. In mice that had taken Omega-3s, voluntarily caused ear damage had healed faster than in those that did not receive the supplements.
Omega-3: a future therapy?
The study shows that although Omega-3s cannot reverse joint damage, which is typical of osteoarthritis, they appear to slow its progression by eliminating the damaging effects of obesity. More than body weight, it is the content and type of fatty acid intake that regulates wound healing and the severity of arthritis. A finding that supports the need for further studies on the use of Omega-3 dietary supplements as a potential therapeutic approach.
Source: Chia-Lung Wu, Deeptee Jain, Jenna N McNeill, Dianne Little, John A Anderson, Janet L Huebner, Virginia B Kraus, Ramona M Rodriguiz,William C Wetsel, Farshid Guilak. "Dietary fatty acid content regulates wound repair and the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis following joint injury" Ann Rheum Dis annrheumdis-2014-205601Published Online First: 10 July 2014
