As many as one in three adults in the U.S. currently suffer from arthritis. What most people don’t know, however, is that arthritis isn’t a singular disease: it is a complex disorder that comprises more than 100 different conditions that can affect people during any stage of their life. Two of the most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
A recent study demonstrates that arthritic indicators, marked by the degeneration of the cartilage and bone of the joints, can be significantly altered by exposure to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The results show that the loss of proteins, or “aggrecans,” present in connective tissues from the cartilages initiate degenerative joint disease.
The main enzymes responsible for the degradation of aggrecans are termed “aggrecaneses,” whose activity is increased by the exposure of cartilage to pro-inflammatory substances. In turn, these contribute to the progression and perpetuation of arthritis. The way to combat this is to reduce inflammation, which can be done by taking omega-3 fatty acids.
To learn more about Omega 3 supplements and other natural ways of fighting Arthritis Click here, and ask a StayBetter doctor in your neighborhood.
Clinical studies on dietary supplements with omega-3 PUFAs, such as those found in fish oils, have shown modulation of inflammatory symptoms involved in arthritis. Supplementation with omega-3 PUFAs elicits anti-inflammatory effects in muscles and joints that reduce inflammation and degenerative enzymes.
By contrast, supplements with other types of fatty acids had no effect in treating the inflammation and degenerative enzymes. Supplementation of omega-3 PUFAs can play a very important role in halting or slowing inflammatory and degenerative factors that contribute to the progression of arthritis.
So, what does this all mean, exactly? Simple: dietary supplements with fish oils that are rich in omega-3 PUFAs can provide significant benefits in the treatment of arthritis—and that is really, really good news!