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Daniel Kennedy, M.D.
Photo from-
Yenra: Biotechnology
Food can have pro-inflammatory effects
from irritants and immunoreactive substances that act in the gut. Dietary
modification can also provide anti-inflammatory properties. The most supported
evidence is by altering the balance of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids
(PUFA) in favor of Ω-3
PUFA, which is found in high concentrations in fish oils.
Fish oils, also known as marine oils,
are lipids found in fish, especially cold water fish. Other marine life such as phytoplankton
also contains high levels of fish oils.
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The biologically active component of
these oils are the 20 carbon eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20: 5n-3) and the 22
carbon docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22: 6n-3). DHA is a vital component of
the phospholipids of human cellular membranes, and both EPA and DHA are
found naturally in the form of triacylglycerols (TAGs).
PUFA are essential macronutrients that
are metabolized to mediators that regulate inflammation. Diets rich in Ω-6 tend to be
proinflammatory, while diets rich in Ω-3
PUFA are anti-inflammatory.
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Diets rich in Ω-3 PUFA has been
used with some success in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of joints,
kidney, gut, and skin. Long chain Ω-3
PUFA found in fish and fish oil appears to posses more anti-inflammatory
properties than shorter chain Ω-3
PUFA found in vegetable oils and may be used in combination with
prescription medications to help treat and prevent inflammatory diseases.
This website was designed to: 1) provide
an overview of the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis, 2) explore possible
mechanisms of action that fish oil plays in therapy for this disease, 3) review
several published journal articles on the subject, and 4) attempt to ascertain
whether fish oil supplementation is a good adjunct for the medical treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis. |
