Assessment of inflammatory activity and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis acids supplemented with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid and Oleic

Fish oil omega-3 fatty acids exert anti-inflammatory effects on patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, a comparative study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving, besides their usual medication, fish oil omega-3 fatty acids and oleic acid has not been performed. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the association of omega-3 fatty acids and oleic acid in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Forty three patients (34 female, 9 male; men age = 49 +-12 years) were investigated in a randomized design. Patients were assigned to 1 of 3 groups. The first one (G1) received placebo (soy oil), the second group (G2) received fish oil omega-3 fatty acids (3g/day), and the third group (G3) received fish oil omega-3 fatty acids (3g/day), 6,8 g of oleic acid and canola oil instead of the usual oil they used to prepare food. Disease activity was assessed by clinical and laboratory indicators at the beginning of the study, and after 12 and 24 weeks. Where compared to G1, there was a statiscally significant improvement in all clinical parameters related to assessment and evolution of the disease (morning stiffness and joint pain intensity), as well as all parameters related to morbidity (interval to onset of fatigue, tender joint count, right and left hand grip strenght) in G2 and G3 after 24 weeks. After 12 weeks, G3 showed statistically significant improvement in morning stiffness, joint pain intensity, tender joint count and right and left grip strenght, when compared to G1, while G2 showed a statistically significant reduction when compared to G1 in joint pain intensity right and left hand grif strenght. Group 3 also showed and improvement in joit pain intensity variations after 24 weeks when compared to the variation after 12 weeks in relation to baseline values at the same group. There was also a better funcional capacity in group 3 after 24 weeks when compared to the variation after 12 weeks in relations to baseline values at the same...