Welma Stonehouse1, Bianca Benassi-Evans1, Jana Bednarz2, Andrew D Vincent3, Stephen Hall4,5, Catherine L Hill6. 1. Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 2. Adelaide Health Technology Assessment, School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 3. Freemasons Centre for Male Health & Wellbeing, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 4. Emeritus Research Pty Ltd, Camberwell, Victoria, Australia. 5. Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 6. Rheumatology Unit, The Queen Elizabeth and Royal Adelaide Hospitals, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of chronic pain and disability worldwide. Treatment generally focuses on symptom relief through nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics, which may incur side effects. Krill oil, rich in anti-inflammatory long-chain (LC) omega-3 ( ω-3) PUFAs and astaxanthin, may be a safe and effective alternative treatment. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the effects of a commercially available krill oil supplement on knee pain in adults with mild to moderate knee OA. Secondary outcomes were knee stiffness; physical function; NSAID use; Omega-3 Index; and lipid, inflammatory, and safety markers. METHODS: Healthy adults (n = 235, 40-65 y old, BMI >18.5 to <35 kg/m2), clinically diagnosed with mild to moderate knee OA, regular knee pain, and consuming <0.5 g/d LC ω-3 PUFAs, participated in a 6-mo double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Participants consumed either 4 g krill oil/d (0.60 g EPA/d, 0.28 g DHA/d, 0.45 g astaxanthin/d) or placebo (mixed vegetable oil). Knee outcomes were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) numeric scale (normalized to scores of 0-100). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 3 mo, and 6 mo. RESULTS: Omega-3 Index increased with the krill oil supplement compared with placebo (from 6.0% to 8.9% compared with from 5.5% to 5.4%, P < 0.001). Knee pain score improved in both groups with greater improvements for krill oil than for placebo (difference in adjusted mean change between groups at 6 mo: -5.18; 95% CI: -10.0, -0.32; P = 0.04). Knee stiffness and physical function also had greater improvements with krill oil than with placebo (difference in adjusted mean change between groups at 6 mo: -6.45; 95% CI: -12.1, -0.9 and -4.67; 95% CI: -9.26, -0.05, respectively; P < 0.05). NSAID use, serum lipids, and inflammatory and safety markers did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Krill oil was safe to consume and resulted in modest improvements in knee pain, stiffness, and physical function in adults with mild to moderate knee OA.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03483090.
BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of chronic pain and disability worldwide. Treatment generally focuses on symptom relief through nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics, which may incur side effects. Krill oil, rich in anti-inflammatory long-chain (LC) omega-3 ( ω-3) PUFAs and astaxanthin, may be a safe and effective alternative treatment. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the effects of a commercially available krill oil supplement on knee pain in adults with mild to moderate knee OA. Secondary outcomes were knee stiffness; physical function; NSAID use; Omega-3 Index; and lipid, inflammatory, and safety markers. METHODS: Healthy adults (n = 235, 40-65 y old, BMI >18.5 to <35 kg/m2), clinically diagnosed with mild to moderate knee OA, regular knee pain, and consuming <0.5 g/d LC ω-3 PUFAs, participated in a 6-mo double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Participants consumed either 4 g krill oil/d (0.60 g EPA/d, 0.28 g DHA/d, 0.45 g astaxanthin/d) or placebo (mixed vegetable oil). Knee outcomes were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) numeric scale (normalized to scores of 0-100). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 3 mo, and 6 mo. RESULTS: Omega-3 Index increased with the krill oil supplement compared with placebo (from 6.0% to 8.9% compared with from 5.5% to 5.4%, P < 0.001). Knee pain score improved in both groups with greater improvements for krill oil than for placebo (difference in adjusted mean change between groups at 6 mo: -5.18; 95% CI: -10.0, -0.32; P = 0.04). Knee stiffness and physical function also had greater improvements with krill oil than with placebo (difference in adjusted mean change between groups at 6 mo: -6.45; 95% CI: -12.1, -0.9 and -4.67; 95% CI: -9.26, -0.05, respectively; P < 0.05). NSAID use, serum lipids, and inflammatory and safety markers did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Krill oil was safe to consume and resulted in modest improvements in knee pain, stiffness, and physical function in adults with mild to moderate knee OA.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03483090.
Authors: Zhen-Zhong Xu; Ling Zhang; Tong Liu; Jong Yeon Park; Temugin Berta; Rong Yang; Charles N Serhan; Ru-Rong Ji Journal: Nat Med Date: 2010-04-11 Impact factor: 53.440
Authors: Tahira Devji; Gordon H Guyatt; Lyubov Lytvyn; Romina Brignardello-Petersen; Farid Foroutan; Behnam Sadeghirad; Rachelle Buchbinder; Rudolf W Poolman; Ian A Harris; Alonso Carrasco-Labra; Reed A C Siemieniuk; Per O Vandvik Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2017-05-11 Impact factor: 2.692