The Facts:
* 250 patients took a supplement containing omega-3 essential fatty acids (a fish oil preparation) for back or neck pain.
* Around 60% of the patients (who responded to a questionnaire) said their pain had decreased, and over 80% said they would continue with the supplement.
* Fish oil appears to be a safe alternative to traditional painkillers, although further work is needed.
Shaun’s comment: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen are routinely used to treat back and neck pain but can cause unwanted side effects. These results show that fish oil supplements may be of benefit as a pain reliever.
Before we rush out to buy some, we do need more research of this potential benefit – only half the patients who took part in the study responded to the questionnaire and it is impossible to tell what the remaining patients thought of the treatment.
Study Reference:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.surneu.2005.10.023
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.surneu.2005.10.023
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