Omega-3 May Alleviate Rheumatic Disease

AALESUND, NorwayTreatment with marine- based omega-3 fatty acids may provide relief of symptoms in Bechterew disease, a chronic rheumatic condition mainly affecting joints of the spine and larger joints of the extremities, and possibly also delay disease progression. In the study, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology (35:359-362, 2006), 24 patients were randomly selected to receive either a high-dose (as EPAX 5500 TG, EPAX AS, 4.5 g/d) or low-dose (2 g/d) omega-3 supplement. The patients were observed for 21 weeks; at the end of the study disease activity was significantly reduced in the high-dose group with fewer patient-reported symptoms. Some patients in the high-dose group also reported increased mental alertness; this effect was not observed in the low-dose group.

Bjorn Sundstrom, lead researcher in the study, noted: The present study clearly indicates that patients with Bechterews disease may benefit from a treatment with omega-3 fatty acids. Such a dietary regimen could eventually be sufficient to curtail a genetic preponderance for developing the disease.