Claire Georgiou ● 3 min read
Omega-3 fats contain two naturally occurring essential fatty acids (EFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Many inflammation-based health concerns can be reduced and modulated with an increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet or via supplements. These EFAs stimulate the body’s anti-inflammatory processes, helping relieve joint pain and other inflammation-based pain in the body in much the same way as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but without the side effects.
Omega-3 fatty acids are generally deficient in western diets as there tends to be an over-consumption of processed foods, displacing the omega-3 rich ingredients in the diet. The ratio of omega-3 to -6 should ideally be 1:1, but in the western diet it is estimated to be 1:15[1] A low intake of omega-3 fatty acids may be a contributing factor in the increased incidence of inflammatory diseases around the globe.[1]
Omega-3 EFAs exert their action upon key proteins involved in the inflammation process. Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of omega-3 include the ability of EPA to prevent pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid (AA) production. Cyclo-oxygenase-2, an enzyme involved in the inflammatory cascade, is also inhibited by EPA. This is the same mechanism of action of a number of popular NSAIDs.[2] Eicosanoids produced from AA directly compete with EPA for the same G-coupled receptors, so the higher the EPA intake the higher the likelihood of EPA binding and reducing inflammation.[2]
An already substantial body of evidence supports the need to significantly increase the dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids to optimise metabolic health, reduce rates of chronic inflammatory conditions, and improve overall mortality rates.[3]
EPA and DHA may reduce the development of atherosclerosis, or arterial plaques, via their ability to reduce concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines that can lead to atrial wall adhesions and plaques that cause atherosclerosis and heart disease.[4] These powerful anti-inflammatory compounds reduce cardiovascular injury as well as the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.[4]
Omega-3 EFAs have been demonstrated and proven to successfully minimise joint pain associated with a range of inflammatory conditions. A number of placebo-controlled studies comparing NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, an analgesic commonly used for pain, and omega-3 EFAs have shown equivalent results for pain relief.[5,6]
While fish oils are becoming markedly more popular as a form of pain relief for arthritis and joint conditions, the mechanisms by which fish oil induces relief have wide-reaching effects. A meta-analysis of 17 randomised, controlled trials assessing the pain-relieving effects of omega-3 PUFAs in patients found that omega-3 PUFAs are a successful treatment for joint pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and dysmenorrhoea.[3] Fish oil supplementation for pain relief was also shown to be a much safer alternative to NSAIDs for reducing pain associated with arthritis. By comparison, long-term NSAID use can have significant side effects.[6]
Autoimmune conditions are a multifactorial disease with inflammation as a key component of the disease state. EPA and DHA from fish oil have potential to confer a benefit in autoimmune conditions via immune-modulating activity.[1] A number of randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trials in patients with autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, and others, found a decrease in inflammatory activity and a reduction in the need for anti-inflammatory medication.[1]
Taking omega-3 rich fish oil supplements regularly has the benefit of supporting and reducing:
- Joint and muscle pain.
- Inflammatory neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, MS, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease and other autoimmune diseases.
- Inflammation associated with reproductive health such as dysmenorrhoea.
- Protects against cardiovascular disease and renal disease due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-hypertensive effects.[7]
References
- Simopolous AP. The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomed Pharmacother 2002;56(8):365-379. [Abstract]
- Laye S, Nadjar A, Joffre C, et al. Anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 fatty acids in the brain: physiological mechanisms and relevance to pharmacology. Pharmacological Reviews 2018;70(1),12-38. [Full text]
- Goldberg RJ, Katz J. A meta-analysis of the analgesic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for inflammatory joint pain. Pain 2007;129:210-223. [Abstract]
- De Caterina R, Madonna R, Massaro M. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cytokines and adhesion molecules. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2004;6:485-491. [Full text]
- Zainal Z, Longman AJ, Hurst S, et al. Relative efficacies of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in reducing expression of key proteins in a model system for studying osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2009;17(7):896-905. [Full text]
- Maroon JC, Bost JW. Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an anti-inflammatory: an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for discogenic pain. Surg Neurol 2006;65(4):326-331. [Abstract]
- Zivkovic AM, Telis N et al. Dietary omega-3 fatty acids aid in the modulation of inflammation and metabolic health. Calif Agric (Berkeley). 2011; 65(3):106-111. [Full text]
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