Galarraga B et al. - Cod liver oil supplements containing n-3 fatty acids can be used as NSAID-sparing agents in RA patients. Methods
A study to determine whether cod liver oil supplementation helps reduce daily NSAID requirement of pts with RA
97 RA pts were randomized to take either 10 g of cod liver oil containing 2.2 g of n-3 EFAs or air-filled identical placebo capsules
Documentation of NSAID daily requirement, clinical and laboratory parameters of RA disease activity and safety checks were done at 0, 4, 12, 24 and 36 wks
At 12 wks, pts were instructed to gradually reduce, and if possible, stop their NSAID intake
Relative reduction of daily NSAID requirement by >30% after 9 mos was the primary outcome measure
Results
60% of pts completed the study
39% in the cod liver oil group and 10% in the placebo group were able to reduce their daily NSAID requirement by >30%
No differences between the groups were observed in the clinical parameters of RA disease activity or in the side-effects observed
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