Joint replacements - take cod liver oil and reduce the need for them

Main Category: Pain / Anesthetics
Article Date: 14 Feb 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Cod liver oil may reduce pain and cartilage damge in osteoarthritis and reduce the need for joint replacment, new research suggests.

In a study of 31 patients suffering from osteoarthritis, researchers at Cardiff University showed that cod liver oil reduced enzymes linked to pain and cartilage damage caused by osteoarthritis.

Eighty six percent of patients given 1000 mg of extra high strength cod liver oil before undergoing joint replacement surgery had significantly reduced levels of enzymes linked to cartilage damage, compared to 26 percent of patients on placebo.

'The data suggests that cod liver oil has a dual mode of action, potentially slowing down the cartilage degeneration inherent in osteoarthritis and also reducing factors that cause pain and inflammation,' said lead researcher Professor Bruce Caterson.

Osteoarthritis is characterised by the breakdown of the joint's cartilage amd is the most common type of arthritis and a major reason for joint replacement surgery.

'What these findings suggest is that by taking cod liver oil, people are more likely to delay the onset of osteoarthritis and less likely to require multiple joint replacements later in life,' conclude the reserchers.

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