Cod liver oil can be beneficial for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a new study has found.
Scientists at the Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee and the University of Dundee analysed 97 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, all of whom had been taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can help to ease the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, but they may also cause unpleasant side-effects when taken in high doses.
Researchers found that patients who took 10g of cod liver oil containing 2.2g of omega-3 fatty acids often reduced their reliance on NSAIDs.
Nine months into the study, 39 per cent of those taking cod liver oil had reduced their NSAID use by more than 30 per cent, compared with just ten per cent of those taking a placebo.
Dr Andrew Bamji of the British Society for Rheumatology told the BBC that the findings, which are published in the journal Rheumatology, were "positive".
"Anything that can help to reduce NSAID use is going to be safer for patients," he noted.
"I would say to patients by all means take cod liver oil and when you feel ready start to reduce your NSAID dose."
Cod liver oil can be beneficial for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a new study has found.
