Omega-3 Supplements May Prevent Osteoarthritis According to Study

DePuy Pinnacle and other brands of hip replacement devices are failing at an alarming rate and leading many recipients to file DePuy Pinnacle lawsuits in attempts to obtain compensation for the pain and suffering caused by their failed hip implants.

The majority of hip replacement procedures are performed on people suffering from osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease that affects the body’s joints. According to new research published in the British journal, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, consumption of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may prevent the deterioration of cartilage associated with osteoarthritis.

Symptoms Can Be Slowed Down and Possibly Prevented

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in species of fish such as tuna, salmon and mackerel, and also in walnuts, flax seeds, soybeans and kidney beans.

Researchers at the University of Bristol in England fed a diet rich in omega-3 to guinea pigs prone to osteoarthritis; other guinea pigs received a standard diet. The results showed that the guinea pigs who received the omega-3 enriched diet were 50 percent less likely to develop osteoarthritis than the ones who received the standard diet.

Dr. John Tarlton, the lead researcher involved in the study, and a professor of veterinary sciences and conditions, felt that any cartilage degeneration was reduced by the inclusion of omega-3 in the pigs’ diet. “Futhermore,” he said, “there was strong evidence that omega-3 influences the biochemistry of the disease and therefore not only helps prevent the disease, but also slows its progression, potentially controlling established osteoarthritis.”

The medical research director of Arthritis Research UK (the organization that funded the study), Professor Alan Silman offered some perspective on these latest findings: “The possibility that omega-3 fatty acids could prevent osteoarthritis from from developing has been a tantalizing one. Some limited, previous research in dogs has suggested that we were a long way away from understanding the potential use in humans. However, this current research in guinea pigs is exciting as it brings us closer to understanding how omega-3 might fundamentally interfere with the osteoarthritis process, and that it could potentially be taken as a treatment.”

There will be further studies conducted in order to determine the efficacy of omega-3 in humans.

About 27 Million Americans Suffer From Osteoarthritis

According to statistics from the Center for Disease Control, over 27 million Americans, particularly those over the age of 65, suffer from this debilitating disease, which can often prompt many to seek relief by undergoing joint replacement procedures such as hip and knee replacements. Many of those who have undergone hip replacements and received the failure-prone DePuy Pinnacle implant, have experienced further pain and suffering that lead to revision procedures necessary to replace a defective implant.

Protect Your Rights as a Consumer

The Rottenstein Law Group’s hip replacement lawyers have over 25 years of collective experience advocating for clients in consumer products injury cases. If you feel you have been injured by a defective DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement, you may have grounds to file a DePuy Pinnacle lawsuit and receive compensation. Just fill out our convenient contact form, and one of our lawyers will be in touch.