Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of cod liver oil on symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

  • Published:
Advances in Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this pilot study, 43 patients with rheumatoid arthritis ingested 1 g of cod liver oil (one capsule) daily for 3 months. Decreases occurred in morning stiffness (52.4%;P < 10-3), painful (42.7%) and swollen (40%) joints (P= 10−3 each), and pain intensity (67.5%). Ratings of “good” or “very good” were awarded by 68% of the patients for efficacy and by 95% for tolerability. Eleven patients reported nonsevere adverse effects that in 3 cases may have been related to the study preparation. Cod liver oil can be recommended for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Arnett FC, Edworthy SM, Bloch DA, McShane DJ, Fries JF, Cooper NS. The American Rheumatism Association 1987 revised criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis.Arthritis Rheum. 1988;31:315–324.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Schäfler A, Braun J, Renz U.Klinikleitfaden. Schwerpunkt Innere Medizin. Stuttgart: Jungjohann Verlagsgesellschaft; 1993:462.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Sanders TAB. Marine oils: metabolic effects and role in human nutrition.Proc Nutr Soc. 1993; 52:457–472.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Curtis CL, Hughes CE, Flannery CR, Little CB, Harwood JL, Catersor B. Ω3 Fatty acids specifically modulate catabolic factors involved in articular cartilage degradation.J Biol Chem. 2000; 275:721–724.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kremer JM, Jubiz W, Michalek A, et al. Fish-oil fatty acid supplementation in active rheumatoid arthritis.Ann Intern Med. 1987;106:497–503.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. van der Tempel H, Tulleken JE, Limburg PC, Muskiet FA, van Rijswijk MH. Effects of fish oil supplementation in rheumatoid arthritis.Ann Rheum Dis. 1990;49:76–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Sellmayer A, Hrboticky N, Weber PC. Ω-3-Fettsäuren in der Prävention kardiovaskulärer Erkrankungen.Ernährungs-Umschau. 1996;43:122–128.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Geusens P, Wouters C, Nijs J, Jiang Y, Dequeker J. Long-term effect of omega-3-fatty acid supplementation in active rheumatoid arthritis.Arthritis Rheum. 1994;37:824–829.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Lau CS, Morley KD, Belch JJF. Effects of fish oil supplementation on non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug requirement in patients with mild rheumatoid arthritis-a double-blind placebo controlled study.Br J Rheumatol. 1993;32:982–989.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Endres S, de Caterina R, Schmidt EB, Kristensen SD. Ω-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids: update 1995.EurJClin Invest. 1995;25:629–638.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kremer JM. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements in rheumatoid arthritis.ISSFAL Newslett. 1997; 4:5–8.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Nielsen GL, Faarvang KL, Thomsen BS, et al. The effects of dietary supplements with Ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, double blind trial.EurJClin Invest. 1992;22:687–691.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Felson DT, Anderson JJ, Meenan RF. Time for changes in the design, analysis, and reporting of rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials.Arthritis Rheum. 1990;33:140–149.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Felson DT, Anderson JJ, Boers M, et al. The American College of Rheumatology preliminary core set of disease activity measures for rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials.Arthritis Rheum. 1993;36:729–739.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Phytopharmaceuticals, PhytoPharm Consulting, Berlin, Germany

    Joerg Gruenwald Ph.D., Hans Joachim Graubaum Ph.D. & Andrea Harde M.D.

Authors
  1. Joerg Gruenwald Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hans Joachim Graubaum Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andrea Harde M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gruenwald, J., Graubaum, H.J. & Harde, A. Effect of cod liver oil on symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Adv Therapy 19, 101–107 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02850059

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02850059

Keywords

Search

Navigation