Gamma Linolenic Acid may help rheumatoid arthritis
patients move more freely
MEDFORD, MASS, May 2000 - New research confirms that the
right fats can help loosen the joints of people suffering
from rheumatoid arthritis.
A recently completed report on the therapeutic value
of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) confirmed that this essential
fatty acid may be an important addition to the diets
of rheumatoid arthritis patients.
The review was completed by the medical research firm,
Metaworks, Inc. in Medford Mass.
Lead researcher Dr. Marya Zilberberg reports that GLA
is not only safe, but it is also an effective natural
therapy. In her review of close to 40 clinical papers
on GLA, Zilberberg noted that GLA consistently reduces
inflammation and joint stiffness without any of the
serious side effects associated with pharmaceutical
drugs. "GLA certainly appears to have a much more favorable
side effect profile than any of the drugs on the market
for rheumatoid arthritis. You are not seeing any of
the problems that those other drugs seem to cause,"
said Zilberberg.
Zilberberg found that GLA is particularly useful for
reducing morning stiffness. "We saw about a 60-65 per
cent reduction in morning stiffness for these patients,"
said Zilberberg. "In other words if you have two hours
of morning stiffness, that goes down to about a half
hour. It is an extremely striking difference."
This is good news for rheumatoid arthritis patients
who often see morning stiffness as the most debilitating
effect of their disease.
"If you were to ask a rheumatoid arthritis patient
about morning stiffness you would find that it is an
extremely important indicator of how their disease is
doing." said Zilberberg.
Severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis can lead to weight
loss and permanently disfigured joints. Other complications
include morning stiffness, night pain and dependence
on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and others.
These drugs provide pain relief, but can cause side
effects in thousands of patients who use them long-term.
Common side effects include abdominal pain, diarrhea,
bloating, heartburn and upset stomach. Close to 30 per
cent of patients on long-term NSAID treatment develop
ulcers of the stomach. Animal studies show that GLA
also provides an anti-ulcer effect by protecting the
stomach lining from gastric acid. Observations published
in Annals of Rheumatoid Disease (vol. 47, 1988) indicate
that patients can reduce their dependence on NSAIDs
by adding GLA to their treatment regimens.
Dr. Ronald Lawrence, an assistant clinical professor
at the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles, is currently
working to find a safe treatment for degenerative arthritis.
He has begun to use GLA on some of his arthritis patients.
"My patients say that they move freer and easier and
seem to be more relaxed, sort of lubricated if you will.
That's nice to hear because stiffness is a big problem
with all types of arthritis but particularly rheumatoid
arthritis."
GLA is an essential fatty acid found in the seeds of
plants such as borage and evening primrose. This quiet
cousin to popular fish and flaxseed oils has yielded
positive results in a number of studies including rheumatoid
arthritis, skin conditions such as eczema, diabetic
neuropathy and coronary heart disease. Borage oil, also
known as starflower oil, is the richest natural source
of GLA, and is available in health food stores and pharmacies
across North America. Clinical research done in the
last 10 years indicates that an effective dosage of
GLA for rheumatoid arthritis is found in 3 to 10 grams
of borage oil per day. Results are generally seen within
4 to 12 weeks of supplementation.
- Source: Metaworks Inc., Medford,
Mass.
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