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Effects of short-term oral administration of dietary marine oils in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and joint pain: a pilot study comparing seal oil and cod liver oil.

  • 2008-08
  • Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) 27(4)
    • Linn A Brunborg
    • Tor M Madland
    • Ragna A Lind
    • Gülen Arslan
    • Arnold Berstad
    • Livar Frøyland

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 20
Population
38 patients with IBD-related joint pain; 21 had Crohn's disease and 17 ulcerative colitis
Methods
Ten milliters of seal oil (n=18) or cod liver oil (n=20) was self-administered orally 3 times a day for 14 days before meals in a double-blind setting
Blinding
Double-blind
Duration
14 days

Background

Very long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have modulating effects on inflammatory mechanisms. Seal and fish oils are rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and possibly therefore high doses of nasoduodenally administered seal oil rapidly relieved inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated joint pain in two recent studies. In the present study, we compared the effects of short-term oral administration of seal oil and cod liver oil on IBD-related joint pain, leucotriene B(4) level, serum fatty acid profile and IBD activity.

Methods

Thirty-eight patients with IBD-related joint pain were included in the study; 21 had Crohn's disease and 17 ulcerative colitis. Ten milliters of seal oil (n=18) or cod liver oil (n=20) was self-administered orally 3 times a day for 14 days before meals in a double-blind setting.

Results

There were no significant differences between the two intervention groups or between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients. There was a tendency toward improvement in several joint pain parameters after both seal oil and cod liver oil administration. Further, plasma leucotriene B(4) concentration, serum Sigma n-6 to Sigma n-3, and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) to eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) ratios were similarly reduced after administration of seal oil and cod liver oil.

Conclusion

No significant differences in the two treatment groups were seen; in both groups, the changes in several joint pain parameters, leucotriene B(4) level of plasma, and serum fatty acid profile were putatively favourable.

Research Insights

  • Cod Liver Oil→Improved Joint Pain

    There was a tendency toward improvement in several joint pain parameters after both seal oil and cod liver oil administration.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    10 mL three times a day for 14 days
  • Cod Liver Oil→Reduced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity

    There were no significant differences between the two intervention groups or between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    10 mL three times a day for 14 days
  • Cod Liver Oil→Reduced Leukotriene B4 Level

    plasma leucotriene B(4) concentration, serum Sigma n-6 to Sigma n-3, and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) to eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) ratios were similarly reduced after administration of seal oil and cod liver oil.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    10 mL three times a day for 14 days
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