Cod liver oil controls arthritis pain enzymes

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Cod liver oil controls arthritis pain enzymes

New Use for an Old Remedy

Cod liver oil controls arthritis pain enzymes

By Preidt

HealthSCOUT Reporter

SUNDAY, Jan. 30 (HealthSCOUT)-- Hold your nose and swallow your grandma's

advice: here's more proof that cod liver oil is good for you.

The Omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver and other fish oils already have been

proven good for your heart. Now scientists at Cardiff University in Wales

have

found they also can ease the pain, inflammation and damage of arthritis.

Working with cartilage in the laboratory, the researchers found that Omega-3

fatty acids become incorporated into cartilage cells and reduce the activity

of

enzymes responsible for cartilage damage.

" In joint tissues --that's where arthritis manifests itself -- the presence

of

Omega-3 fatty acids in the cells of the cartilage could stop the production

of

the enzyme that destroys cartilage in arthritis, which often leads to people

having joint replacements, " says lead researcher Bruce Caterson, a professor

in

the Connective Tissue Biology Laboratories of the School of Biosciences at

Cardiff University.

The fatty acids, he says, also cause a recently discovered enzyme, called

cyclooxygenase-2, to " switch off. " This enzyme acts as a catalyst for much

of

the pain and inflammation in arthritis.

In addition, the fatty acids also have the ability to " switch off " the

enzyme-initiated processes which prolong arthritis pain and inflammation.

Just how the Omega-3 fatty acids switch off these enzymes isn't clear, but

Caterson, who has specialized in cartilage arthritis research for about 30

years, says he plans to study that process.

The findings, published in the Jan. 14, 2000, issue of the Journal of

Biological Chemistry, are of special note because the pharmaceutical

industry

is trying to find specific drug inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2. The Cardiff

research may help define new targets and strategies for new drug

development,

Caterson says.

Scientists have been examining the association between Omega-3 fatty acids

and

arthritis for more than 10 years, and a number of clinical trials focused on

treatment with Omega-3 fatty acids, says Caterson. " The data is clear that

many

people, not all, have been able to reduce their taking of medicines for

pain, "

he says.

Dr. Klippel, medical director for the U.S. Arthritis Foundation, based

in

Atlanta, Ga., says many clinical studies have shown that a diet high in

Omega-3

fatty acids reduces arthritis activity.

He says he was aware of the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids in relation to

rheumatoid arthritis but didn't know scientists were looking at its effects

on

cartilage.

" I think this is an important scientific step forward which, I think, quite

likely will have therapeutic implications, " he says.

However, Klippel warns people using arthritis medicines not to automatically

switch to cod liver oil. Consult your doctor first, he says.

" This is not a substitute for what you're currently taking, " he says.

But he adds a caveat: " That's not to say, for instance, that if one uses

these

oils and the disease gets better, that one can't then reconsider the need

for

some of the medications. "