Abnormal fatty acid pattern in rheumatoid arthritis. A rationale for treatment with marine and botanical lipids.

Abstract

The fatty acid pattern found in RA (decreased levels of n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) may explain the beneficial effect of fish oil. Changes in n6 polyunsaturated fatty acids suggest that delta-5 desaturation is decreased and this might facilitate the antiinflammatory effect of botanical lipids in RA.