Could Fish Oil Cure Your Arthritis?

Arthritis is a condition which causes painful inflammation in the joints of sufferers. Their wellbeing is affected by the ongoing, chronic nature of the pain and it can also lead to a variety of other health conditions, both physical and psychological. Now there is new hope for a brighter future and improved wellness for sufferers, as scientists have discovered that supplements could be a way to beat the devastating disease.

Researchers discovered that a combination of aspirin and fish oil could work together to beat a number of chronic diseases, including arthritis, during a breakthrough scientific study. These two substances appear to work together to fight against the inflammation that can be at the root of various diseases such as cancer, heart disease and arthritis.

Whilst many experts have long advised on the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and low-dose aspirin, the exact reasons for their beneficial effects were not fully known. This new study now explains that the aspirin helps to trigger molecules called resolvins to be produced from omega-3 fatty acids which carried this same type of resolvin. These resolvins are naturally made in the body and they help to shut down (or ‘resolve’) the types of inflammation that cause destructive health problems such as arthritis.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in various different types of food, including oily fish, salmon and flax seeds.

The study was carried out on mice, and it was found that a type of resolvin that came from omega-3 fatty acids stayed longer at the site of inflammation than any other natural resolvin, and helped to deal with the inflammation. This suggests that the newly discovered resolvin (termed ‘D3’) might have unique properties when it comes to fighting arthritis. Aspirin works in a slightly different way, by modifying the inflammatory enzymes in the body and instead prompting omega-3 fatty acids to produce the resolvin D3 to help fight against inflammation.