[Initial experience with the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by dietary manipulation]

The purpose was to assemble experience with the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with fish oil and to compare the results with reports from abroad. The investigated group comprised 10 women who suffered from confirmed RA. The patients were treated by nonsteroid antirheumatic drugs. During the trial processed fish oil [Martens'oil], 10 g/day was added. The tolerance of the preparation was good. The investigation period lasted three months. After one-month intervals laboratory and clinical indicators of the activity of the disease were investigated and compared with baseline values before treatment. All investigated values improved, however, only some significantly: the level of C-reactive proteon, pain on movement, the articular index, morning stiffness. The latex-fixation test was in all patients positive at the beginning and at the end of the investigation. Fish oil as a dietetic supplement of treatment with non-steroid anti-rheumatic drugs gives the patients subjective relief, the results of preliminary observations indicate the necessity of further, in particular double blind trials.