Background and objective: To test the hypothesis that an n-3 fatty acids (n-3) plus vitamin E supplementation is more effective than n-3 supplementation alone in improving the clinical, laboratory and inflammatory indices in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Materials and methods: A total of 55 RA patients (50 female, 5 male mean age = 47 + 11y), in 3 groups, were included a double-blind randomized clinical trial. The groups were assigned to treatments as follows: group 1 (G1), placebo (2 g/d MCT oil + vitamin E placebo) group 2 (G2), n-3 fatty acids (1/2 g/d EPA/DHA) +vitamin E placebo group 3 (G3), n-3 fatty acids (1/2 g/d EPA/DHA) + vitamin E (100 IU/d). Clinical, inflammatory, and laboratory indicators were determined at the baseline and at the end of the 6the and 12th weeks. Intra- and inter-group comparisons of the values obtained were made using repeated measure-ANOVA and ANOVA, respectively (p<0.05).
Results: In G2 and G3, improvements in clinical, biochemical, inflammation, and oxidative indicators, as well as in the score of health status assessment (by interview) were more pronounced than in G1 (P<0.01). Also, compared to G1, at the end of week 12 there were higher improvements in morning stiffness and the score of health status assessment in G2 and G3 groups (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Combination of n-3 fatty acids with vitamin E improved most of the clinical and laboratory indices in RA patients. However, there were no significant differences between G2 and G3 other than decreased oxidation and ESR.
Shaabani Y, Rastmanesh R, Taleban F, Jamshidi A, Akhlaghi M, Alavi H. Comparison of the Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation with and without Vitamin E in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Iranian J Nutr Sci Food Technol 2007; 2 (2) :57-69 URL: http://nsft.sbmu.ac.ir/article-1-42-en.html