Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids Moderate Severity of Osteoarthritis in a Mouse Model

OA was induced by destabilizing the medial meniscus. Wound healing was evaluated using an ear punch. OA, synovitis, and wound healing were determined histologically, while bone changes were measured using microCT (computerized tomography).

Results published in the July 10, 2014, online edition of the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases revealed that OA was significantly associated with dietary fatty acid content and serum adipokine levels, but not with body weight. Furthermore, spontaneous activity of the mice was independent of OA development. Small amounts of omega-3 PUFAs (8% by kilocalorie) in a high-fat diet were sufficient to mitigate injury-induced OA. Omega-3 PUFAs significantly enhanced wound repair, while SFAs or omega-6 PUFAs independently increased OA severity, ossification, and scar tissue formation.

“Our results suggest that dietary factors play a more significant role than mechanical factors in the link between obesity and osteoarthritis,” said senior author Dr. Farshid Guilak, professor of orthopedic surgery at Duke University. “While omega-3 fatty acids are not reversing the injury, they appear to slow the progression of arthritis in this group of mice. In fact, omega-3 fatty acids eliminated the detrimental effects of obesity in obese mice. A great next step would be to do a clinical study to look at effect of omega-3 fatty acids post-injury.”


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