Disturbed by the increasing use of pharmaceuticals with potentially serious side-effects, a University of Pittsburgh physician has found there are healthier, natural alternatives for managing joint pain. According to a study by Dr. Joseph Maroon, professor and vice chairman of neurological surgery, substances typically found in fish — omega-3 fatty acids — might be an alternative to such non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs as Motrin, Celebrex, Bextra and the recently discontinued Vioxx. Omega-3 fatty acids are increasingly recognized as important to human health, said Maroon, who also is a member of the American College of Nutrition. In the study, “Natural Alternatives to Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatories,” Maroon and colleague Jeffrey Bost surveyed 120 patients — whom they had placed on omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil — for treatment of their neck and low-back pain resulting from disc disease and arthritis. Of those patients, 59 percent experienced decreased joint pain, and 68 percent were able to stop using non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. The study also found that most patients had no side-effects, and that 86 percent planned to continue the use of omega-3 fatty acids. Maroon said the study is important because many anti-inflammatory drugs have been associated with serious side-effects, including ulcers and heart problems. Furthermore, the cost of natural alternatives to patients is 50 to 100 percent less than the average cost of pharmaceuticals. According to researchers, more than 100,000 people in the United States are hospitalized and nearly 20,000 patients die of complications related to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for the treatment of pain. “It is important for patients to understand that less-toxic alternatives to anti-inflammatories are available,” Maroon said. Scientists made one of the first associations between omega-3s and human health while studying the Inuit people of Greenland in the 1970s. The Inuit suffered far less from certain diseases — coronary-heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis — than their European counterparts. Researchers realized that foods in the Inuit diet — whale, seal and salmon — were rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which provided actual disease-countering benefits. Previous studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids prevent blood clots; reduce pain and cholesterol; enhance the immune system; and cause dilation of blood vessels. In September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognized that omega-3s can prevent coronary-artery disease. Two previous clinical trials also showed that arthritis patients who take fish oils could eliminate or sharply reduce their use of anti-inflammatory drugs. “There was a reason our grandmothers used to give us cod-liver oil,” Maroon said. “The problem back then was that it tasted terrible, and you burped it up all day.” Today, micro-distilled fish-oil capsules are widely available as a substitute for cod-liver oil and for fresh fish, which may be contaminated with mercury. Maroon said fish-oil capsules have almost no side-effects. He recommends that those who aren’t taking blood-thinning medications take 3 to 5 grams daily. Sources of omega-3 fatty acids Fish: Atlantic salmon, herring, sardines, halibut, bluefish, tuna and mackerel The American Heart Association recommends people eat tuna or salmon at least twice a week. As a reasonable substitute or alternative to fresh fish, commercial fish-oil capsules containing omega-3s are available. Wild game: Venison and buffalo are both good sources of omega-3s and make a healthy choice for people who crave meat. Such wild-game meats can be purchased by mail-order if there are no hunters in your family. Plants: Good sources of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) — the plant-based omega-3 — are canola oil; flaxseed and flaxseed oil; walnuts; and leafy, green vegetables, such as purslane. Enhanced food: In the United States, these include omega-3 enriched eggs; in other countries, breads sometimes are enhanced. Source: www.wholehealthmd.com

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