Fish oil in knee osteoarthritis?

“Fish oil in knee osteoarthritis?” is an interesting question. I’ve already mentioned a study here on this blog:

Fish oil and knee OA

Poster #2147: Fish oil doesn't have an effect on structural progression of knee OA. They used 9 g, which would be 18 cps. in Germany.

29.10.2013

The researchers sit predominantly in the area of Adelaide (University of Adelaide) and I’ve been in contact with them. In different groups they research fish oil in rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases.

Now, they’ve published two year data on Fish oil in knee osteoarthritis (OA). 202 patients with knee OA were randomised 1:1 to high-dose fish oil (4.5 g omega-3 fatty acids) 15 ml/day or low-dose fish oil (blend of fish oil and sunola oil; ratio of 1:9, 0.45 g omega-3 fatty acids) 15 ml/day. “The primary endpoints were Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months, and change in cartilage volume at 24 months. Secondary outcomes included WOMAC function, quality of life, analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and bone marrow lesion score.” Results: “…the low-dose fish oil group had greater improvement in WOMAC pain and function scores at 2 years compared with the high-dose group …” Other endpoints didn’t reach statistical significance. The authors concluded: “In people with symptomatic knee OA, there was no additional benefit of a high-dose fish oil compared with low-dose fish oil. The combination comparator oil appeared to have better efficacy in reducing pain at 2 years, suggesting that this requires further investigation.”

Maybe, maybe not. The study didn’t have a placebo arm. Maybe omega-3 fatty acids like in fish, fish oil or flax oil will have a place in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis or other auto-inflammatory diseases, but knee osteoarthritis might not benefit. However, I don’t want to sound too apodictical – please go on with your research.

References:

http://rheumatologe.blogspot.de/2013/10/acr-meeting-2013-in-san-diego.html

CL Hill et al.: Fish oil in knee osteoarthritis: a randomised clinical trial of low dose versus high dose. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016 Jan;75(1):23-9. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-207169. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26353789