Supplementation of fish oil and olive oil in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated whether supplementation with olive oil could improve clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity in patients who had rheumatoid arthritis and were using fish oil supplements.


METHODS
Forty-three patients (34 female, 9 male; mean age = 49 +/- 19y) were investigated in a parallel randomized design. Patients were assigned to one of three groups. In addition to their usual medication, the first group (G1) received placebo (soy oil), the second group (G2) received fish oil omega-3 fatty acids (3 g/d), and the third group (G3) received fish oil omega-3 fatty acids (3 g/d) and 9.6 mL of olive oil. Disease activity was measured by clinical and laboratory indicators at the beginning of the study and after 12 and 24 wk. Patients' satisfaction in activities of daily living was also measured.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant improvement (P < 0.05) in G2 and G3 in relation to G1 with respect to joint pain intensity, right and left handgrip strength after 12 and 24 wk, duration of morning stiffness, onset of fatigue, Ritchie's articular index for pain joints after 24 wk, ability to bend down to pick up clothing from the floor, and getting in and out of a car after 24 wk. G3, but not G2, in relation to G1 showed additional improvements with respect to duration of morning stiffness after 12 wk, patient global assessment after 12 and 24 wk, ability to turn faucets on and off after 24 wk, and rheumatoid factor after 24 wk. In addition, G3 showed a significant improvement in patient global assessment in relation to G2 after 12 wk.


CONCLUSIONS
Ingestion of fish oil omega-3 fatty acids relieved several clinical parameters used in the present study. However, patients showed a more precocious and accentuated improvement when fish oil supplements were used in combination with olive oil.
Berbert
Alair Alfredo
AA
Department of Department of Pathology, Londrina State University, Paraná, Brazil.
Kondo
Cacilda Rosa Mitiko
CR
Almendra
Cecília Lisete
CL
Matsuo
Tiemi
T
Dichi
Isaias
I
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000188:drug therapy; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor