Another benefit of fish consumption

The benefits of the fish are many, but recently scientists have discovered the next one, which can change the lives of many. According to a new study, increased seafood consumption can help alleviate the pains of rheumatoid arthritis. People suffering from the disease who eat fish at least twice a week report a decrease in swelling and joint stiffness.

The study covered 176 people with arthritis who responded to specific questions about their eating habits the year before. In particular, the authors look at the answers to questions about how often people eat tuna, salmon, sardines and other fish, cooked raw, steamed or roasted.

Scientists have not looked at how often people eat fried fish, mussels or shrimp because these foods have a lower value of omega-3 fatty acids - a type of fat with anti-inflammatory properties.

Earlier studies have shown that taking fish oil supplements (rich in omega-3) may be beneficial to people with rheumatoid arthritis, the current study is the first study to address the benefits of immune disease that brings about the consumption of real fish .

For more accurate results, scientists also took into account the activity of the disease of the participants or, in other words, the number of swollen joints consistent with the degree of inflammation in their blood.

Disease activity scores were on average half a point lower in people who eaten the largest number of fish (twice a week or more) than those who ate at least (once a month or never). This is found after researchers have adjusted a number of factors that would otherwise have affected the results, including age, gender, body mass index, depression, marital status, medication use and fish oil consumption.
On the score scale the highest grade is 5 (for people with worsening arthritis) and the smallest is 1 (for healthy people). So for scientists, halving the activity of the disease is considered a great success.

With similar improvements, we usually expect that the patient will feel much better, says lead author of the study, Dr. Sarah Tedishchi, a rheumatologist at the Brigham Women's Hospital.

The study also suggests that the more fish eat rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, the more relief they get from the pain.

Each portion of fish per week is associated with lower activity of the disease, says Tedeschi.

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