Eating fish helps to ease arthritis

EATING fish at least twice a week helps relieve the symptoms of arthritis, a study has found.

Patients who did so suffered less from swollen or tender joints than those who never ate fish, and their symptoms improved the more they consumed.

Previous research has found that taking fish oil supplements – high in omega-3 fatty acids – relieves joint pain associated with the disease.

But the researchers wanted to see if the effect was also present when whole fish were eaten.

The US study, published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research, looked at 176 rheumatism patients. Their levels of inflammation, measured by blood tests, were significantly lower among those who ate fish twice or more a week.

The study focused on fish with higher omega-3 oil content. They were tuna, salmon, sardines, raw fish such as sashimi or sushi, and grilled, steamed baked trout, sole, halibut and grouper. Fried fish were not included because frying reduces omega-3 content.