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Many patients ask about vitamins and supplements in the hope of finding something natural for their inflammatory arthritis. To date, we have nothing to offer. I am always on the look-out for trials that could give me something intelligent to tell patients, other than "it can't hurt!"
At the ACR 2016 meeting Tuesday morning, I saw poster that might provide an evidence-based option. Poster #1681 from a Danish group looked at the effect n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on inflammation and analgesic use in PsA. This was an RCT of 133 patients with PsA who were randomized to receive 3 g of PUFA/day or placebo over a 24-week period. The outcomes were clinical status, use of analgesics and leukotriene formation at baseline and at study end.
The investigators found higher formation of leukotriene B5 and 5-HEPE, and significantly lower formation of leukotriene B4. NSAIDs and analgesic use were significantly lower compared to controls. The treatment group also had significant reduction in DAS, TJC, enthesitis score, and psoriasis score and severity index.
Based on their findings, the authors proposed that PUFA might be an attractive adjunctive treatment for PsA patients. In light of the potential other health benefits of essential fatty acids, patients will be quite happy to hear there may be some evidence to support use of this particular supplement.
I look forward to more high-quality studies to help guide us when it comes to natural/ complementary medicine, including their potential side effects.
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About the Author
Dr. Shelly Dunne
Dr. Shelley Dunne is a graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland School of Medicine. She completed her training in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Rheumatology at the University of Toronto. She has been in private practice since 1998 and is currently a consulting rheumatologist at the Toronto East General Hospital.
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