Diet Is The Key Factor In Severity Of Arthritis

A U.S. study in mice found that a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids helped heal injured arthritic knee joints. In humans, arthritis that results from injury accounts for 10 to 15 percent of all cases. For the study, mice were fed one of three high-fat diets: saturated fat, omega 6 fatty acids or omega 6 fatty acids plus omega 3s. Those that ate saturated fat or omega 6 fatty acid diets experienced significant worsening of their arthritis. But mice that ate a small supplement of omega 3 fatty acids had healthier joints. The researchers said the severity of the arthritis was associated with diet, not with the weight of the animals, indicating that just being fat does not induce or worsen arthritis.