A recent Nutrients journal study reviewed the efficacy of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in modulating the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Study: Omega-3 Supplementation and Its Effects on Osteoarthritis . Image Credit: fongbeerrredhot / Shutterstock.
com OA is a degenerative joint disease in which the destruction of the articular cartilage leads to a pro-inflammatory response. In OA, disease progression can be influenced by several factors, such as the extent of inflammation, trauma, biomechanics, and metabolism. At joint surfaces, articular cartilage facilitates a low friction area and greater load transmission with joint articulations.
In addition to articular cartilage, OA can also adversely impact the ligaments, adjacent synovium, and subchondral bone, all of which contribute to joint pain. Typically, symptomatic OA is treated with land-based exercise programs, education, and weight-management programs. Pharmacological treatment is also available for OA; however, the presence of comorbidities makes medication-based care provision complex.
Thus, there remains an urgent need for alternative treatment methods to address OA progression. Previous research has shown that nutritional supplements and diet modifications could benefit OA patients. The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 PUFAs play a key part in the catabolic and inflammatory processes, which contribute to OA disease progression.
Omega-3 PUFAs are associated with anti-inflammatory effects that h.
