Fish Oil and Joint Health

You’ve heard of using fish oil to fight heart disease and age-related cognitive decline, but did you know that fish oil can also have major benefits for your joint health? As we age, the cartilage in our joints begins to break down from the regular wear and tear of daily life. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil can help fight the inflammation associated with age and overuse. 

What is Fish Oil?

Fish oil is one of the most popular supplements available. Derived from the meat of fatty fish such as mackerel, herring, tuna, and other species, fish oil is rich in a special form of fatty acid known as omega-3 fatty acid. 

Fatty acids are the basis for lipid construction, and are a necessary part of our diet. Omega-3 fats are one of several essential fatty acids that the body cannot manufacture on its own and must absorb entirely from food.

Omega-3 fats are crucial for the formation of cell membranes, as well as proper functioning of the eyes, brain, sperm, heart, blood vessels, and elsewhere. They are also part of fighting the inflammation that can cause and exacerbate joint pain. This is especially true of Eicosatetraenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA,) the two omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil.

Fish Oil and Arthritis

In its most broad sense, arthritis is a chronic condition that involves pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. While the causes of arthritis may vary, it usually involves excess, recurrent inflammation within the joints that worsens as we age. As an anti-inflammatory, the omega-3 fats in fish oil have been shown to help soothe certain types of arthritis. 

Fish Oil for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, especially the joints. This results in pain, stiffness, swelling, and even deformities of the joints. 

While there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, the pain can often be treated using a combination of supplements, physical therapy, and traditional medicines. Anti-inflammatory supplements such as fish oil have been shown to be effective in controlling the pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. 

This is because omega-3’s interfere with white blood cells and cytokine enzymes, two key components of the inflammatory process. 

Fish Oil for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a chronic, degenerative condition caused by the gradual breakdown of cartilage in the joints. Cartilage is a soft, squishy tissue used to cushion parts of the body which experience a lot of use (among other functions). When cartilage breaks down in the joints, the connecting bones rub against each other, causing serious pain and further inflammation within the tissue.

 One study conducted in older adults suffering from obesity found that fish oil can help soothe inflammation related to osteoarthritis, leading to less pain and less use of traditional painkillers like NSAIDs.  

Fish Oil Side Effects

Common side effects of fish oil supplements include: 

• Low blood pressure 
• Diarrhea
• Fishy burps
• Stroke
• Vitamin A toxicity
• Insomnia

How to Choose High-Quality Fish Oil

In our article, Importance of Fish Oil Quality and Purity, we explore how you can tell the difference between high quality and low quality fish oil, as well as how you can cut through industry jargon and slick marketing to understand a fish oil supplement label.

Looking for a fish oil you can trust? Try the Standard Process General Health Pack. With all your daily nutritional needs, the Standard Process General Health Pack contains a whole food-based multivitamin, a trace minerals supplement, and your daily dose of high-quality fish oil. 

As with every Standard Process product, the General Health Pack’s ingredients are carefully monitored and assessed for quality. Buy it here in our shop.