Fish Oils and Ulcerative Colitis
Is this a new drug-free treatment?

"Omega 3 Fish Oils Support a Healthy Colon!"

Are there benefits from combining fish oils and Ulcerative Colitis? Research shows these healthy oils may play a positive role in your ulcerative colitis treatment plan.

What is Ulcerative Colitis (UC)?

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of your rectum and colon.

It causes inflammation and can produce ulcers. The inflammation kills the cells lining the colon which bleed and produce pus. The inflammation in the colon can also cause diarrhea.

The disease can occur at any age. Research shows it usually appears in younger people between the ages of 15 to 30 and less frequently between 50 to 70 years of age.

For some reason, Japan has one of the lowest rates of colitis with only 0.34 people per 100,000. Researchers believe eating a Japanese diet high in fish and omega 3 fatty acids may be a clue to this statistic.

There is currently no medical cure for colitis, however, it can be managed with corticosteroids or anti-inflammatory medications to reduce inflammation.

Treatments to maintain and prolong remission are needed to improve the quality of life for many patients afflicted with the disease.

The following research takes a closer look at omega 3 fatty acids, fish oils and ulcerative colitis:

1. Fish Oils Reduce Steroid Use by 50% in Colitis

St. Louis, Missouri - Eighteen (18) patients with active ulcerative colitis enrolled in a study looking at the possible health benefits of fish oils.

All of the patients' disease was active with diarrhea and rectal inflammation; they also continued using their prescribed drug treatments of Prednisone and Sulfasalazine.

Patients took either 18 Max-EPA capsules daily (equaling 3.24 grams eicosapentaenoic acid and 2.16 grams docosahexaenoic acid) or a placebo consisting of 18 capsules of vegetable oil.

Parameters used for monitoring included:

1. Flexible sigmoidoscopy (a small flexible scope used to visualize the surface of the colon)

2. Tissue samples from the rectum

3. Blood tests to measure chemical levels of inflammatory markers.

The study lasted for 4 months, followed by a 1 month wash-out period where study participants did not take the omega 3 capsules or placebo.

Researchers noted the following on fish oils and ulcerative colitis:

• Patients taking fish oils showed a major decrease in inflammatory markers.

• Patients taking fish oils gained bodyweight (many patients suffering from ulcerative colitis experience weight loss).

• Patients taking fish oils reduced their daily Prednisone requirements by more than 50%.

The group taking the placebo had to increase their Prednisone requirements by almost 24%.

Researchers concluded that 4 months of fish oil supplementation in ulcerative colitis may lead to reduction in steroid use, increased bodyweight and histological improvements in cellular tissue.

2. Fish Oils lessen Colitis Symptoms by 56%

Martinez, California - A study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology shows fish oils improve symptoms of ulcerative colitis and reduced the amount of medication needed to treat the disease.

People with ulcerative colitis tend to have elevated levels of leukotriene B4 in their rectal mucosa. Wikipedia defines leukotriene B4 as a fatty signalling molecule involved in inflammation.

Omega 3 fatty acids in fish oils are reported to inhibit the production of leukotrienes, thereby reducing inflammation.

Eleven (11) patients with ulcerative colitis of mild to moderate severity were recruited for this study. The study subjects took either a fish oil supplement providing about 4.2 grams of omega 3 fatty acids per day or a placebo.

Patients' symptoms were monitored using a Disease Activity Index:

Sigmoidoscope

• Sigmoidoscope was used to look at the actual tissue surface of the colon.

• Levels of inflammatory chemicals were measured using radio-immunoassay. This is a lab technique using radiation to measure specific substances in your body.

The study was double-blinded and placebo-controlled. Following a period of 8 months, researchers noted the following results:

• Fish Oil group displayed a 56% decrease in symptoms.

• 72% of the patients using fish oils were able to reduce their need for anti-inflammatory drugs. Some of these patients were able to stop taking anti-inflammatory drugs completely during the study.

There was no change in the inflammatory chemicals measured in both the fish oil and placebo patients. Nor was there any change in the actual tissue surface of the colon as viewed with the sigmoidoscope in both groups. Only 4% of the placebo patients had a decrease in their symptoms.

Researchers concluded fish oil supplements may help improve symptoms in mild to active ulcerative colitis and may reduce amount of anti-inflammatory drugs needed. They felt more studies are needed to determine the best dosage and duration when combining fish oils and ulcerative colitis treatment.

3. Comparison of Omega 3 Fatty Acids to Sulfasalazine for Treating Ulcerative Colitis

Fish Oils contain omega 3 fatty acids

Brazil - Researchers at the Internal Medicine Department of Londrina State University set out to compare the effectiveness of omega 3 fatty acid fish oils against Sulfasalazine for treating ulcerative colitis.

Ten (10) patients, with mild to active colitis, received either 2 grams/day of Sulfasalazine or 5.4 grams/day of omega 3 fatty acids for a 2 month period.

Disease inflammation activity was measured with sigmoidoscopy, histological findings and laboratory indicators of inflammation.

Researchers found fish oils increased disease activity and did not produce a significant difference. In fact, scientists believe Sulfasalazine is superior to omega 3 fatty acids for treating ulcerative colitis.

Does Fish Oil help reduce Colitis Flare-ups?

Toronto, Canada - Investigators at the Division of Gastroenterology, Hospital for Sick Children found no evidence that fish oils help reduce remission rates of ulcerative colitis.

Researchers looked at available data from a variety of different medical databases. They took into account the type of patients used in the studies, the actual dosage of fish oil, length of study and most importantly, the rate of relapse or flare-up of colitis symptoms.

Investigators found no evidence supporting the use of omega 3 fish oils for reducing the rate of relapse of ulcerative colitis. However, it should be mentioned that no studies using enteric-coated fish oils were included and further research may be warranted in this area.

Editorial Comments on Fish Oils and Ulcerative Colitis:

Some research studies indicate fish oils may reduce inflammation, increase bodyweight and lessen corticosteroid use.

However, other studies found no beneficial effects from fish oils or omega 3 fatty acids for reducing remission rates; one study found fish oils actually increased disease activity.

Corticosteroids form a common part of the treatment plan for patients with ulcerative colitis. Unfortunately, some people experience severe side effects from these powerful drugs.

The 2 most commonly prescribed medications are:

• Sulfasalazine - frequently used in ulcerative colitis treatment. It helps treat symptoms of bowel inflammation, diarrhea, rectal bleeding and abdominal pain.

• Prednisone - a steroid commonly used to treat inflammation.

Corticosteroids may cause side effects

The National Institute of Health states sulfasalazine comes with a list of side effects, including: extreme mood swings, slow healing of cuts and bruises, irregular or absent menstrual periods, seizures, depression, irregular heartbeat, sudden weight gain and vomiting.

Omega 3 fatty acids have proven anti-inflammatory properties. Research indicates they prevent the production of leukotrienes; mediators for cellular inflammation.

While fish oils aren't a cure for ulcerative colitis, some studies indicate they may help reduce inflammation and improve the quality of life for some patients.

Most importantly, there are conflicting reports and more research is needed (particularly with enteric-coated fish oils) before recommendations can be made.

Fish Oils and Ulcerative Colitis - Choosing the Right Product

Fish oils contain omega 3 fatty acids; healthy fats shown to reduce cellular inflammation.

OmegaRX - High concentration omega 3 supplement

One of the most important factors in getting maximum anti-inflammatory effects is using a product that provides high concentrations of omega 3 fatty acids.

People with sensitive or compromised digestive systems should use products that have the lowest risk for irritating or exacerbating their condition.

Highly-purified omega 3 supplements that have been certified to contain minimal amounts of contaminants will help ensure maximum absorption for an impaired digestive system.

Fish Oils and Ulcerative Colitis Research References:

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