Fish Oil Supplements and Rheumatoid Arthritis: What You Need to Know

Fish oil supplements are made with oil from cold water fish such as cod, tuna, salmon and herring. Its active ingredient is EPA/DHA (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid). These two ingredients are said to reduce inflammation and stiffness making it a godsend for more arthritis and joint pain sufferers. DHA is important for brain function and provides omega-3 fatty acids (essential fatty acids are a form of polyunsaturated fat and needed by the body) . Fish oil supplements lower blood triglyceride levels (triglycerides are fat cells in the blood stream) and it will lower blood pressure. Fish oil also protects from heart disease and inhibits RA growth.

Normal doses are two 3ounce servings of fish a week or 1,000 mg of supplement twice a day. Make sure that the fish oil supplement capsules contain at lease 30% EPA/DHA. These supplements will come in soft gel capsules or in liquid form. Get high potency capsules so that you take fewer pills a day. A month’s worth of fish oil supplements can run $30-$45. In over 20 clinical trials for fish oil and RA symptoms it has been shown to be effective in reducing the joint pain. The effect results from the anti-inflammatory activity of fish oil. In 2003 the FDA and the EPA both recommended that no pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children eat more than 8 ounces of albacore tuna a month due to unsafe rising of mercury levels. This type of tuna is packed as canned white tuna.

No cod liver oil should be taken as “cod fish oil”. Fish oil supplements from cod come from the fish body, not the liver. Cod liver oil is high in Vitamin A and D to the point of toxicity.

Fish oil supplements are good for people who have had a heart attack or other coronary disease, people with high triglyceride levels, or people with RA, psoriasis, or other autoimmune disorders. People that should not take fish oil supplements include those with lower clotting ability. Fish oil in large doses (over 3 grams a day) will raise the glucose level, suppress immune reactions, cause nausea, belching, diarrhea, and may contain contaminants (like mercury and dioxin) that will induce allergic reactions or toxicity.

You should never substitute any type of supplements for prescription medicines without first discussing it with your health care provider. This is meant as a guide and not medical advice, please talk over with your doctor before taking fish oil supplements.