title: A meta-analysis of the analgesic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for inflammatory joint pain.
abstract: Between 40% and 60% of Americans use complementary and alternative medicine to manage medical conditions, prevent disease, and promote health and well-being. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs) have been used to treat joint pain associated with several inflammatory conditions. We conducted a meta-analysis of 17 randomized, controlled trials assessing the pain relieving effects of omega-3 PUFAs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or joint pain secondary to inflammatory bowel disease and dysmenorrhea. Meta-analysis was conducted with Cochrane Review Manager 4.2.8. for six separate outcomes using standardized mean differences (SMDs) as a measure of effect size: (1) patient assessed pain, (2) physician assessed pain, (3) duration of morning stiffness, (4) number of painful and/or tender joints, (5) Ritchie articular index, and (6) nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption. Supplementation with omega-3 PUFAs for 3-4 months reduces patient reported joint pain intensity (SMD: -0.26; 95% CI: -0.49 to -0.03, p=0.03), minutes of morning stiffness (SMD: -0.43; 95% CI: -0.72 to -0.15, p=0.003), number of painful and/or tender joints (SMD: -0.29; 95% CI: -0.48 to -0.10, p=0.003), and NSAID consumption (SMD: -0.40; 95% CI: -0.72 to -0.08, p=0.01). Significant effects were not detected for physician assessed pain (SMD: -0.14; 95% CI: -0.49 to 0.22, p=0.45) or Ritchie articular index (SMD: 0.15; 95% CI: -0.19 to 0.49, p=0.40) at 3-4 months. The results suggest that omega-3 PUFAs are an attractive adjunctive treatment for joint pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and dysmenorrhea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D018771:Arthralgia / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3