May 2006

Fish oil effective for neck and back conditions

Fish oil helps reduce chronic neck and low-back pain, according to researchers who made the results of their study known at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons’ annual meeting in New Orleans. The supplement also works on symptom management in people with non-surgical arthritis.

In this study, conducted by Joseph Maroon, MD, and Jeff Bost, PAC, at the University of Pittsburgh (PA), 250 adult patients with non-surgical neck or back pain under physician’s care were asked to supplement with two capsules daily of a concentrated fish oil supplement which provided 1,200 milligrams of omega-3 EFAs, of which 900 milligrams are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and 200 milligrams are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

After supplementing for an average of 75 days, 60 percent of the respondents reported reduction in both overall pain and joint pain, and 59 percent discontinued taking prescription pain medications or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). None of the patients experienced significant side effects and 88 percent of the respondents planned to continue using the fish oil omega-3s.

Maroon’s study team used ProEPA/EPA from Nordic Naturals, Inc., the fish oil supplement in this study.

Source: Omega Research, www.omega-research.com

Industry News from:
Chiropractic News from: