Guest guest Posted September 9, 2004 Report Share Posted September 9, 2004 http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/488189 Fish Oil Supplements Lower SLE Symptoms Reuters Health Information 2004. © 2004 Reuters Ltd. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world. NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Aug 27 - Dietary supplementation with fish oil may be beneficial in modifying symptomatic disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Copper supplements, however, make no difference, according to results of a study published in the August issue of the Journal of Rheumatology. " Fish oil supplementation has a beneficial effect on murine models of SLE, while exogenous copper can decrease the formation of lupus erythematosus cells in rats with a hydralazine-induced collagen disease, " Dr. Aubrey L. Bell, of Musgrave Park Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and colleagues explain. To investigate any clinical effects of fish oils and/or copper, the researchers conducted a double-blind controlled study with 52 SLE patients. The participants were randomly assigned to receive daily 3 mg MaxEPA -- " roughly equivalent to two oily fish-based meals per week " -- and 3 mg copper; 3 mg MaxEPA and placebo copper: 3 mg copper and placebo fish oil, or both placebo capsules. Each 1-gram MaxEPA capsules (Seven Seas Ltd.; UK) contains 180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid, 120 mg docosahexaenoic acid, and 1 IU vitamin E. The team took serial measurements of disease activity using the revised Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM-R) and peripheral blood samples at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 weeks. Compared to patients taking placebo, those taking fish oil experienced a significant decline in SLAM-R score from 6.12 to 4.69 at 24 weeks (p < 0.05). " The components of SLAM-R most affected by fish oil supplementation were the integument, neuromotor, laboratory domains, " Dr. Bell and colleagues report. " Supplementation with copper showed a rise in SLAM-R score of less than 1 unit after 12 weeks, " which wasn't statistically significant. Supplementation with fish oil or copper did not significantly affect blood pressure, individual body mass index or hematological indices. All patients who received an active supplement reported feeling better than those who received placebo, the team reports. J Rheumatol 2004;31:1551-1556. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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