Clinical Benefits of n-3 PUFA and ɤ-Linolenic Acid in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

(1) Background: Marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and ɤ-linolenic acid (GLA) are well-known anti-inflammatory agents that may help in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Their effects were examined in patients with rheumatoid arthritis; (2) Methods: Sixty patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were involved in a prospective, randomized trial of a 12 week supplementation with fish oil (group I), fish oil with primrose evening oil (group II), or with no supplementation (group III). Clinical and laboratory evaluations were done at the beginning and at the end of the study; (3) Results: The Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS 28 score), number of tender joints and visual analogue scale (VAS) score decreased notably after supplementation in groups I and II (p < 0.001). In plasma phospholipids the n-6/n-3 fatty acids ratio declined from 15.47 ± 5.51 to 10.62 ± 5.07 (p = 0.005), and from 18.15 ± 5.04 to 13.50 ± 4.81 (p = 0.005) in groups I and II respectively. The combination of n-3 PUFA and GLA (group II) increased ɤ-linolenic acid (0.00 ± 0.00 to 0.13 ± 0.11, p < 0.001), which was undetectable in all groups before the treatments; (4) Conclusion: Daily supplementation with n-3 fatty acids alone or in combination with GLA exerted significant clinical benefits and certain changes in disease activity.

Is There a Link between Zinc Intake and Status with Plasma Fatty Acid Profile and Desaturase Activities in Dyslipidemic Subjects?

“…Further on, phospholipids were separated from total lipids on silica thin-layer chromatography plate, on a mixture of petroleum ether, diethyl ether, and glacial acetic acid (87:12:1) used as a solvent system. Following the previously described procedure [47] with slight modifications [48] FA methyl-esters were further obtained by direct trans-methylation. Obtained FA methyl-esters were analyzed by gas chromatography on Shimadzu chromatograph GC 2014, Tokyo, Japan equipped with a flame ionization detector and a Rtx 2330 fused silica gel capillary column (60 m × 0.25 mm id × 0.2 µm film thickness) (Restek Co., Bellefonte, PA, USA) according to method by Veselinovic et al [48].…”

“…Following the previously described procedure [47] with slight modifications [48] FA methyl-esters were further obtained by direct trans-methylation. Obtained FA methyl-esters were analyzed by gas chromatography on Shimadzu chromatograph GC 2014, Tokyo, Japan equipped with a flame ionization detector and a Rtx 2330 fused silica gel capillary column (60 m × 0.25 mm id × 0.2 µm film thickness) (Restek Co., Bellefonte, PA, USA) according to method by Veselinovic et al [48]. For the purposes of current study oleic acid (18:1 n-9), alpha-linolenic acid (LNA, 18:3 n-3), linoleic acid (LA, 18:2 n-6), dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA, 20:3 n-6), arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4 n-6), adrenic acid (AA, 22:4 n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5 n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) were identified.…”

The place of omega-3 and omega-6 acids in supplementary treatment of inflammatory joint diseases

“…Statistically significant differences between groups I and II and group III were also observed in ESR and CRP values, as well as in the number of painful and swollen joints, along with the experienced pain according to the VAS scale [44].…”

“…• group I -patients were taking 5 capsules containin 1 g of fish oil (300 mg of DHA, 200 mg of EPA and 100 m of other omega-3 acids), • group II -patients were taking 2 capsules of fish oil used in group I and 2 capsules containing 1300 mg of evening primrose oil, including 949 mg of LA and 117 mg of GLA, • group III -patients were undergoing standard therapy [44]. All patients were given the same doses of glucocorticosteroids, methotrexate and NSAID.…”

Oleic Acid - Health Benefits and Status in Plasma Phospholipids in the Serbian Population

“…Patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (18) and patients on hemodialysis (22) had higher levels of OA (13-14 mol%). Serious liver diseases, such as obstructive jaundice (21), and in particular alcoholic liver cirrhosis (26), markedly increased level of OA in plasma phospholipid, while in contrast rheumatoid arthritis (27) decreased OA in comparison to control subjects. The observed changes are unlikely to be a consequence of increased (or in patients with rheumatoid arthritis decreased) intake, but rather of altered activity of delta-9 desaturase.…”