Wow - An Omega 3 Prescription Drug

[Guest guest]

Has anyone tried it. I'm going to ask my rheumy about it. The

article is below.

Joi

A New Option for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

GORDONSVILLE, Va., Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- PBM Pharmaceuticals,

Inc.,

developer of innovative prescription formulations, now offers the only

prescription medication with omega-3 fatty acids. The only Rx

product of its

kind, Animi-3 is already being widely prescribed by physicians as

supplement therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), cardiovascular

disease, and

depression.

The recent withdrawal of arthritic pain medication Vioxx* from

the market

and public concern over the safety of certain prescription drug

therapies have

left arthritics and other patients looking for alternative treatments

for

their pain. Many are seeking prescription products such as Animi-3

(patent-

pending) that have no serious adverse effects.

According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention

and Health

Promotion, arthritis and chronic joint symptoms affect nearly 70

million

people in this country. The severe inflammatory disease is RA, a

chronic

condition characterized by joint pain, muscle pain, stiffness,

fatigue, and

fever. More than two million Americans suffer from RA and also have

a higher

incidence of cardiovascular disease.

" We are pleased to offer the only prescription product containing

omega-

3's to aid physicians in their efforts with inflammatory related

diseases, "

said PBM Executive Vice President Jack Schramm.

Patients with RA often have elevated levels of homocysteine, a

risk marker

for cardiovascular disease, stroke, dementia, and even possibly

depression.(1)

Trials have shown that a combination of folic acid, vitamins B6 and

B12 can

often lower homocysteine levels in these and other patients. " As

part of a

well-balanced diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol,

Folic Acid,

Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 may reduce the risk of vascular

disease. " (2)

Combining a B vitamin regimen with the power of omega-3 fatty

acids may

further benefit patients suffering from inflammatory disease. Omega-

3's are

essential fatty acids present in every cell and play a vital role in

human

life. Studies have demonstrated that omega-3's benefit patients

suffering

from RA by reducing morning stiffness and joint pain.

A major source of omega-3's is dietary fish. However, high

levels of

contamination from pollution have placed many fish on the FDA health

warning

list, leaving a gap in American diets for this essential nutrient.

The omega-

3 in Animi-3 has been highly refined to remove contaminants commonly

found in

fish oil such as methylmercury.

Clinical evidence presented by leading researchers at Cornell

University(3) suggests that a synergistic combination product such as

Animi-3

can be a valuable addition to the physician's therapeutic regimen.

PBM Pharmaceuticals is privately owned and based in Gordonsville,

Virginia. The company affiliate, PBM Products, Inc., markets infant

formula,

infant foods, pediatric and adult nutritionals, diabetic products,

and infant

feeding systems. PBM's family of companies also consists of PBM

Nutritionals,

PBM Foods, PBM International, and PBM Plastics.

For more information, please contact Joe Shields, Director of

Public

Relations, at (800) 959-2066 ext. 131, or jshields@....

* Vioxx (chemical name rofecoxib) is a non-steroidal anti-

inflammatory

drug (NSAID) manufactured by Merck & Co.

(1) Yxfeldt, A. et al. Homocysteine in patients with rheumatoid

arthritis

in relation to inflammation and B-vitamin treatment. Scand J

Rheumatol. 2003; 32(4):205-10.

(2) FDA evaluated the above claim and found that, while it is

known that

diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol reduce the risk of

heart

disease and other vascular diseases, the evidence in support

of the

above claim is inconclusive. FDA " Qualified Health Claims " B

Vitamins & Vascular Disease. Docket No. 99P-3029.

(3) " Increased Consumption of Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Lower the

Risk of

Cardiovascular Disease, Dementia, and Inflammatory Disease "

Conference, July 1, 2004. Supported by PBM educational grant