Studying fish oil to treat systemic lupus erythematosus
Dr. Stephen Wright from Queen?s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland reports beneficial effects of omega-3 fish on the symptoms of SLE [systemic lupus erythematosus].
In this 24-week study, reported during the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston, 60 patients who took 3 grams of omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids “showed significant improvement in a number of the symptoms of active lupus.”
- Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM-R)
- British Isles Lupus Assessment Group index of disease activity for SLE (BILAG)
- Platelet 8-isoprostanes
There was also evidence of a positive effect on the cardiovascular system.
The bottom line?
These findings support earlier work in animals where it was proposed, “omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and, therefore, might be useful in the management of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases [such as SLE].”
11/8/07 18:28 JR