Polyunsaturated fatty acids: any role in rheumatoid arthritis?

Many studies evaluate the relationship between Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but none of them provide information about n-3 PUFAs enriched daily products supplementation and the incidence of the disease in high risk population. Therefore, this meta-analysis demonstrates that 3 PUFAs rich supplementation could be a therapeutic option to better control of RA.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), members of the family of fatty acids play a pivotal part in the homeostasis of the immune system: n-3 PUFAs exert pro-resolving and anti-inflammatory properties, whereas n-6 PUFAs exert predominantly pro-inflammatory characteristics. Investigation about PUFAs could describe a vital opportunity to decipher the pathogenesis better and to enhance the RA management.

CENTRAL, Wanfang, PubMed,  CNKI, EBSCO-Medline, and Embase were searched till March 2017 o recognise primary examination describing the use of n-3 PUFAs in rheumatoid arthritis both in humans and in animal models.

Information from animal models supports the hypothesis that n-3 PUFAs present an intriguing prospect in the future investigation as much in prevention as in treating RA. In humans, numerous prospective cohort and case-control studies propose that a high content of n-3 PUFAs in the diet could present a protective role for incident RA among the participants who were at risk. Also, n-3 PUFAs supplementation has been evaluated as an important therapeutic alternative for participants with RA, mainly to improve the tender joint count, the rate of intake of NSAIDs, the span of morning stiffness, and the pain symptoms.

n-3 PUFAs supplementation could serve a promising therapeutic alternative to manage many manifestations of RA properly. The influence of n-3 PUFAs on synovial histopathology and radiographic progression is still not estimated, as well as their use in the combination with biologics and early arthritis.