The effect of omega -3 fatty acids on the clinical course of arthritis

Abstract:

Arthritis and osteoarthritis are the most common presentation of inflammatory and degenerative rheumatic diseases, which share common symptoms like pain, stiffness, functional failure and structural damage. Over the decades, there have been significant advances in the understanding, pathogenesis, diagnosis and possible treatment of these clinical conditions. Drugs are directed toward the modification of the course of the disease, and immunotherapy and immunomodulation have been shown to be a powerful therapeutic option. Many patients seek additional treatment options. Significant research has been conducted to assess the potential therapeutic effects of fish oil in many diseases and conditions, including arthritis. The cognition that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may be incorporated into the cell membrane, reducing the amount of arachidonic acid available for the synthesis of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, and thus reducing the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and others, considers it as a potential therapeutic possibility. Conducted research and scientifically substantiated results are important for assessing potential effects of omega-3 fatty acids, primarily in all chronic diseases that have inflammation as a key component in its pathology. 

Key words:
arthritis; docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); krill oil; omega-3 fatty acids