Cod Liver Oil May Slow, Reverse Osteoarthritis 33233

Cod Liver Oil May Slow, Reverse Osteoarthritis

CARDIFF, Wales--Cod liver oil may help reduce the pain caused byarthritis, according to researchers at Cardiff University (www.cf.ac.uk).The omega-3 fatty acids in the oil appear to switch off the aggrecan- andcollagen-degrading enzymes that break down joint cartilage, slowing cartilagedestruction and reducing inflammation, which lessens arthritic pain. Of thesubjects who took 1,000 mg cod liver oil supplements, 86 percent had absent orreduced levels of the degrading enzymes, compared to 26 percent of subjects whotook placebo. The 31 subjects in both groups followed the regimen for 10 to 12weeks prior to total knee replacement surgery.

"This breakthrough is hugely significant because it demonstrates theefficacy of a dietary intake of cod liver oil in patients with osteoarthritistaken prior to their joint replacement surgery, said Bruce Caterson,professor at Cardiffs School of Biosciences and one of the studysresearchers. The data suggests that cod liver oil has a dual mode of action,potentially slowing down the cartilage degeneration inherent in osteoarthritisand also reducing factors that cause pain and inflammation.

The study was partly funded by the Arthritis Research Campaign and will bepublished in a future issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism.