Positive Health Online

Abstract

SENFTLEBER and COLLEAGUES, 1. Musculoskeletal Statistics Unit, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, 2000 Copenhagen F, Denmark. ninnaks@hotmail.com;  Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, 1958 FC Copenhagen, Denmark. ninnaks@hotmail.com;  Musculoskeletal Statistics Unit, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, 2000 Copenhagen F, Denmark. sabrina.mai.nielsen@regionh.dk ; Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, 1958 FC Copenhagen, Denmark. sabrina.mai.nielsen@regionh.dk;  Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, 1958 FC Copenhagen, Denmark. jra@nexs.ku.dk ;  Musculoskeletal Statistics Unit, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, 2000 Copenhagen F, Denmark. henning.bliddal@regionh.dk ;  Musculoskeletal Statistics Unit, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, 2000 Copenhagen F, Denmark. simon.tarp@regionh.dk ;  Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, 1958 FC Copenhagen, Denmark. ll@nexs.ku.dk ;  Division of Rheumatology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. defurst@mednet.ucla.edu ;  The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. msalmazor@mdanderson.org ;  Musculoskeletal Group, Cochrane Collaboration, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada. lyddiatt@lyddiatt.ca  Musculoskeletal Statistics Unit, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, 2000 Copenhagen F, Denmark. robin.christensen@regionh.dk evaluated whether marine oil supplements reduce pain and/or improve other clinical outcomes in patients with arthritis.

Background

Arthritis patients often take fish oil supplements to alleviate symptoms, but limited evidence exists regarding their efficacy. The objective was to evaluate whether marine oil supplements reduce pain and/or improve other clinical outcomes in patients with arthritis.

Methodology

Six databases were searched systematically (24 February 2015). The authors included randomized trials of oral supplements of all marine oils compared with a control in arthritis patients. The internal validity was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and heterogeneity was explored using restricted maximum of likelihood (REML)-based meta-regression analysis. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to rate the overall quality of the evidence. Forty-two trials were included; 30 trials reported complete data on pain.

Results

The standardized mean difference (SMD) suggested a favourable effect (-0.24; 95% confidence interval, CI, -0.42 to -0.07; heterogeneity, I² = 63%. A significant effect was found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (22 trials; -0.21; 95% CI, -0.42 to -0.004) and other or mixed diagnoses (3 trials; -0.63; 95% CI, -1.20 to -0.06), but not in osteoarthritis patients (5 trials; -0.17; 95% CI, -0.57-0.24).

Conclusion

The evidence for using marine oil to alleviate pain in arthritis patients was overall of low quality, but of moderate quality in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

References

Senftleber NK1,2, Nielsen SM3,4, Andersen JR5, Bliddal H6, Tarp S7, Lauritzen L8, Furst DE9, Suarez-Almazor ME10, Lyddiatt A11, Christensen R12. Marine Oil Supplements for Arthritis Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Nutrients; 9(1). pii: E42. doi: 10.3390/nu9010042 .  Jan 6 2017.

Comment

Evidence for using marine oil to alleviate pain in arthritis patients was overall of low quality, but of moderate quality in rheumatoid arthritis patients