Fish oil supplements 'does not prevent bone loss in knee osteoarthritis'

A new study has cast doubt on the benefits of fish oil supplementation for preventing bone loss among people with knee osteoarthritis.

The Australian research, led by the University of Sydney and the University of Adelaide, aimed to investigate whether supplementation with high dose omega-3 fish oil could have an impact on bone mineral density among 202 people aged 40 and older who were affected by the disease.

Patients were randomised to receive either a high or low dose of omega-3 fish oil supplementation for two years, with bone mineral density assessed at baseline and two years via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

According to results published in the medical journal Osteoporosis International, there were no differences in the two-year bone density measures between the high and low-dose groups, even when additional adjustments for factors such as age, gender, study centre and uses of bone-related drugs during the study period was taken into account, as well as when using intention-to-treat analysis or limiting the assessment to older participants.

Mild adverse events such as headache and gastrointestinal intolerance were common, but did not occur more frequently in either group, while there were no serious adverse events related to the intervention.

The researchers concluded: "A two-year supplementation with high-dose omega-3 fish oil did not alter bone loss among men and women with knee osteoarthritis."

Dr Katherine Free, research liaison and communications manager, said: "Omega-3 essential fatty acids can help control the immune system and fight joint inflammation, and there is evidence that fish oil supplements can improve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

"But what works for one form of arthritis may not work for others, and this study adds to previous evidence that fish oil supplements are not effective at improving the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

"Despite this, it is important that people with arthritis eat a healthy balanced diet, which includes eating two portions of fish a week."

View article...