The clinical effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fish oils and/or copper in systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fish oils with or without copper on disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Fish oil supplementation has a beneficial effect on murine models of SLE, while exogenous copper can decrease the formation of lupus erythematosus cells in rats with a hydralazine-induced collagen disease.


METHODS
A double blind, double placebo controlled factorial trial was performed on 52 patients with SLE. Patients were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups. Physiological doses of omega-3 fish oils and copper readily obtainable by dietary means were used. One group received 3 g MaxEPA and 3 mg copper, another 3 g MaxEPA and placebo copper, another 3 mg copper and placebo fish oil, and the fourth group received both placebo capsules. Serial measurements of disease activity using the revised Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM-R) and peripheral blood samples for routine hematological, biochemical, and immunological indices were taken at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 weeks.


RESULTS
There was a significant decline in SLAM-R score from 6.12 to 4.69 (p < 0.05) in those subjects taking fish oil compared to placebo. No significant effect on SLAM-R was observed in subjects taking copper. Laboratory variables were unaffected by either intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
In the management of SLE, dietary supplementation with fish oil may be beneficial in modifying symptomatic disease activity.
Northern Ireland Center for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK.
Emeir M
EM
Duffy
Gary K
GK
Meenagh
Stanley A
SA
McMillan
John J
JJ
Strain
Bernadette M
BM
Hannigan
Aubrey L
AL
Bell
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D003300:Copper