Omega-3s May Reduce Arthritis Risk

Previously, a number of studies suggest that consuming fatty fish, rich in long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 (PUFAs), exerts a beneficial effect in minimizing arthritis risk.  Alicja Wolk, from the Karolinska Institute (Sweden), and colleagues analyzed data collected on a final total of 32,232 women, who were enrolled in the Swedish Mammography Cohort, which involved women born from 1914 to 1948 and living in two Swedish counties during two survey periods, one in 1987 and one in 1997.  The first survey elicited information regarding diet, height, weight, parity, and education. The second survey expanded the questioning to include smoking history, physical activity, and use of dietary supplements and aspirin. Of the 32,232 women participants, 205 of whom developed rheumatoid arthritis during a mean follow-up of 7.5 years; of these, 27% had daily n-3 PUFA intake of less than 0.21 g/day, as compared with 20% for the entire cohort.  Comparison of the lowest and second quintile of dietary long-chain n-3 PUFAs showed a 39% reduction in the relative risk of rheumatoid arthritis among women in the second quintile. After adjusting for confounding factors, women in the highest n-3 PUFA intake quintile had a 33% lower relative risk of rheumatoid arthritis, as compared with women in the lowest quintile.  Analysis of women who completed both surveys (long-term dietary intake) showed that consistent intake of more than 0.21 g/day of dietary long-chain n-3 PUFAs was associated with a statistically significant 52% reduction in the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, as compared with women who reported lower intake on both surveys. Reporting that: “Consistent long-term consumption of fish at or more than 1 serving per week compared with less than 1 [serving] was associated with a 29% decrease in risk,” the study authors conclude that: “This prospective study of women supports the hypothesis that dietary intake of long-chain n-3 PUFAs may play a role in aetiology of [rheumatoid arthritis].”