Using Fish Oil To Treat Back Pain
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A common message on this site is that your diet has a strong influence on your overall health and the condition of your back.
Backing this view up, recent research has shown that a diet that is high in EPA fish oil reduced lower back pain in over 50% of participants in a study.
In the test, 125 participants who suffered from back pain were given 850 mg of EPA and 200 mg of DHA a day. As a result, over half of the participants were able to discontinue prescription pain medication. 17 different clinical trials have confirmed these results.
So what is going on here?
Joint pain is caused by an excess of proinflammatory messenger molecules. When this occurs a fatty acid called Eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, aids in the anti-inflammatory response of the body to the pain. The fatty acid is converted to messenger molecules that relieve both pain and inflammation in joints. EPA has the additional benefit of preventing omega-6 fats from causing pain and inflammation.
Fish oil contains two naturally occurring fatty acids, EPA and DHA. As described above, it’s these fatty acids that help relieve joint and back pain. They operate in much the same way as the NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors in prescription drugs, but without the side effects.
The two fatty acids EPA and DHA are necessary for many functions in the body, but unfortunately they are not manufactured in the body in quantities sufficient for their use.
What do you have to do to get the benefit?
Take 2 to 3 grams of EPA and DHA a day for three months. This dosage has been shown to reduce the intensity of joint pain, morning stiffness, painful joints, joint tenderness and the need for prescription pain medications, such as NSAIDs.
Fish oil is best obtained from fatty fish, such as salmon, or alternatively from food supplements. Unfortunately, because of ocean pollution, the source of the fresh fish must be evaluated to ensure that the fish does not contain mercury.
If you are unsure about the quality of the fish, purchase food supplements containing EPA and DHEA instead, aiming for the proper balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids.
Be certain to verify that the fish oil supplements are fresh and free of mercury (fresh fish oil should not have a bitter or fish-like taste).
Adjusting Your Diet
We can’t say it too often that the more fresh, natural foods you include in your diet, the healthier you will become.
One of the causes of joint pain is the over-consumption of omega-6 fats in the modern American diet. Omega-6 fats are a necessary part of the diet; however, vegetable oils and overprocessed foods sway the balance that the body needs between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
The target ratio for optimum health is an omega-6:omega-3 ratio of 3:1, but most Americans consume a ratio of 15 to 1. This is the cause of much chronic inflammatory joint and back pain.
Stay Well!
