New study re Cod Liver oil

[Guest guest]

I found this on the CenterWatch site that clinical trials, approvals

and research, and thought I'd share it with the group. I suspect

that these results may have something to do with the subtle

anti-inflammatory effects of Omega 3 oils. I know a lot of folks

scoff at nutritional approaches to treating o.a., but improving

one's diet is a low risk treatment option that carries few side

effects. Anecdotally, I notice my own joints seem to feel less

cranky when I eat a lot of salmon - a practice some might find

more palatable than consuming this dreaded nostrum of days

gone by in either capsule or liquid form! One more reason to

support international treaties targeted at saving the world's

dwindling fish populations!

HealthDay

Top Stories for the Week of February 23, 2004

Cod Liver Oil May Delay Osteoarthritis

Cod Liver Oil May Delay Osteoarthritis

Prospect could reduce number of joint replacements

FRIDAY, Feb. 20 (HealthDayNews) -- Cod liver oil helps slow the

destruction of joint cartilage in people with osteoarthritis, says a

British study.

Experts say that could reduce the number of knee and hip

replacements done each year and shorten waiting lists for joint

replacement surgery.

The study reports that 86 percent of the arthritis patients who

took 1,000-milligram capsules of extra-high-strength cod liver oil

a day had no levels, or significantly reduced levels, of the

enzymes that cause cartilage damage. That compares with 26

percent of the arthritis patients who took a placebo oil capsule

for the study.

Those who took the cod liver oil also had a marked reduction in

some of the enzymes that cause joint pain, according to the

study, by researchers at Cardiff University in Wales.

" This breakthrough is hugely significant because it

demonstrates the efficacy of cod liver oil in patients with

osteoarthritis taken prior to their joint replacement surgery, "

researcher Bruce Caterson says in a prepared statement. " The

data suggests that cod liver oil had a dual mode of action,

potentially slowing down the cartilage degeneration inherent in

osteoarthritis and also reducing factors that cause pain and

inflammation. "

" 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, " he

says.

The study included 31 people in the United Kingdom who were

on a national waiting listing for total knee joint replacement

surgery. Half of the participants took cod liver oil and half took a

placebo for 10 to 12 weeks before their surgery.

During surgery, samples of the patients' cartilage and joint

tissue were taken from the knee joint for analysis by the

researchers.