How Fish Oil Benefits Arthritis

Fish oil benefits arthritis in several ways.  Here’s a look at them.  There are  different types of arthritis.  The two most common are rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.  Let’s look at the rheumatoid type, first.

Rheumatoid (RA)

The rheumatoid type has long been classified as an autoimmune disease, along with things like endometriosis, lupus and ulcerative colitis.  In these diseases, the immune system attacks the cells of the body.  Inflammation is involved in all of them.

In allergies and asthma, the immune system overreacts to non-dangerous compounds.  Again, inflammation occurs, when there is no need for it.

In the case of an infection or an injury, inflammation is needed.  But, chronic inflammation causes health problems.  Researchers have found that it plays a role in all sorts of age-related diseases.
 
When it comes to RA, chronic inflammation eventually degrades the cartilage surrounding the joints.  It can also damage the lungs and the collagen fibers under the skin.  So, the goal is to decrease the inflammation.

How Fish Oil Benefits (RA) Arthritis

Research has shown that fish oil benefits arthritis of the rheumatoid type by reducing morning stiffness and improving mobility.  It reduces pain and the number of tender joints.  It allows patients to be more physically active, which is important for keeping the joints mobile. 

Patients taking the supplements have been able to reduce the number of anti-inflammatory drugs they must take deal with the pain.  This is beneficial, because chronic use of anti-inflammatory drugs can lead to liver damage and eventually liver failure.

There are many different pro-inflammatory agents found in the bloodstream.  TNF alpha is one that is involved in RA.  A recent study showed that fish oil supplementation reduces the number of TNF alpha molecules in the bloodstream.  Other studies have shown decreased levels of eicosanoids, which are also pro-inflammatory agents.  In most cases, it takes three months to see optimal results.

Osteoarthritis

Until recently, researchers were not sure that fish oil benefits arthritis of this type, because inflammation plays less of a role.  The primary benefit of the supplement is due to its anti-inflammatory activity.
 
However, recent studies have shown that there is an improvement in osteoarthritis of the knee or hip.  Osteoarthritis is different in that it does not usually affect all of the joints.  It is not considered and autoimmune disease, but an age-related one.

How Fish Oil Helps Osteoarthritis

As with studies concerning RA, patients taking the supplement were able to reduce the number of pain-relieving medications they needed to take on a daily basis, just to keep the pain bearable.  There are a number of problems with pain-relieving meds, including the need for more and more to provide the same results as time goes by.

To put it in the simplest terms possible, fish oil benefits arthritis of all kinds by reducing pain and inflammation.  Some supplements are known to have more anti-inflammatory activity than others.  Manufacturers can have the anti-inflammatory activity tested, if they want to.  Of course, most don’t. CANCER & Fish Oil Benefits

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