Omega-3 ‘can offer osteoarthritis health benefits’

Consuming supplements of omega-3 fatty acids can lead to better joint health in osteoarthritis patients, according to new research from the US.

The Duke University Medical Center study has shed new light on the link between obesity and osteoarthritis, suggesting that unhealthy dietary fats – not just extra body weight – may contribute to worsening arthritic conditions.

Providing alternative diets to a number of mice with arthritis, it was found that eating high amounts of saturated fats and omega-6 fatty acids saw a decline in joint health, while omega-3 was able to protect against the spread of arthritis.

Moreover, omega-3 was shown to offer benefits in terms of wound healing effectiveness.

Dr Farshid Guilak, professor of orthopaedic surgery at Duke and the study's senior author, said: "Our results suggest that dietary factors play a more significant role than mechanical factors in the link between obesity and osteoarthritis."

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disease in the UK, with more than one million people seeing their doctor about it annually.