A new study by the Université de Moncton, Canada, has shown that the British-grown ahiflower oil (Buglossoides arvensis) has similar efficacy as fish oils when it comes to reducing symptoms of arthritis – such as joint pain, swelling – and inflammatory markers.
The aim of the trial was to see how polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplements affected the development and progression of rheumatoid arthritis in animals and also determine the impacts of PUFA-enriched diets.
Researchers gave groups of mice with induced rheumatoid arthritis either a standard Western diet or one supplemented with ahiflower oil or fish oil and then observed the effects on inflammatory markers, platelets, platelet microvesicles, ankle thickness and cytokine release.
The diets with supplemental PUFAs didn’t prevent arthritis, but ankle swelling was significantly reduced across both the fish oil and ahiflower oil groups, demonstrating, the researchers report, that ahiflower oil had a similar beneficial impact to fish oil.
“low concentrations of dietary ahiflower oil may have a similar anti-inflammatory potential to that of dietary fish oil”
“Our study provides insight into the contribution of PUFA supplementation in modulating the pro-inflammatory phenotype of platelets in RA pathology,” explains Angela M Laevski, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton. “As well as this, it suggests that low concentrations of dietary ahiflower oil may have a similar anti-inflammatory potential to that of dietary fish oil.”
Alexa Mullane, a nutritional therapist and nutritional advisor to Wiley’s Finest – whose CatchFree Omega contains ahiflower – says: “It is great news to see yet another study that shows plant-based alternatives can provide significant health benefits. Omega-3s are an essential part of our daily health routine as they are crucial for brain, heart, eye and reproductive health. They optimize our brain function; improving focus, IQ and memory.
They also have anti-inflammatory effects and have been shown to reduce the risk of dementia. Yet studies show most of the UK population, and especially vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians are deficient in omega-3s. In addition, the majority of the UK population don’t eat enough oily fish each week as the Government recommends.”
Adds Paul Farquhar, MD of Wiley’s Finest UK: “We have long known the multiple benefits of ahiflower for people on a vegan or vegetarian diet and are proud of our complex yet potent plant-based formula. To know that our CatchFree oil can assist people with chronic symptoms is highly rewarding.”
