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Omega-3 and Vitamin E Supplementation in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Registration Number
NCT00399282
Lead Sponsor
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether simultaneous supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E is effective in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to determine whether simultaneous supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E is effective in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Most of studies on omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3) supplementation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have clearly shown potentially beneficial changes in cytokine and eicosanoid metabolism. The overall clinical improvement, however, has been only moderate. One explanation is that an increased intake of omega-3 leads to a reduction in the availability of antioxidants and an increased generation of lipid peroxides. The majority of the anti-inflammatory drugs routinely used nowadays are COX (cyclo-oxygenase) inhibitors. Mechanism of COX II inhibitors is similar of omega-3. So, it is difficult to differentiate omega-3 net effects in some situations. Existing clinical trials on omega-3 and vitamin E (Vit E) are sometimes questioned due to using omega-6 fatty acids as placebo and neglecting omega-6 fatty acid intake in the diet. A comprehensive randomized controlled double-blind trial would have omega-6 fatty acids served as placebo in patients who are well matched in terms of therapies and drugs.

Comparison(s): Comparison of groups supplemented with omega-3, omega-3 with Vit E, and placebo (Medium chain triglycerides: MCT).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
75
Inclusion Criteria
  • Clinical diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis according American college of rheumatology (ACR)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Infection
  • Major joint malformations
  • Simultaneous diseases like metabolic and gastrointestinal
  • Being class IV according to ACR
  • Drug dose fluctuations
  • History of Vit E and/or omega-3 supplements during past six months
  • Gastric irrigations

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Score on Persian version of health assessment questionnaire (PE-HAQ) at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Disease activity score at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Duration of morning stiffness (in minutes) at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Joint pain intensity, on a five-point scale (0, absent) at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Onset of fatigue (in minutes) after walking at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Ritchie's articular index for pain joints at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Right and left grip strength (in mmHg) measured with a sphygmomanometer cuff inflated to 20 mmHg at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Patient's global assessment of disease activity (0 to 10 cm visual analog scale: 0, symptom free; 10, very severe) at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Classification of functional status in RA according to revised criteria of the American
College of Rheumatology at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Patient's satisfaction in activities of daily living based on a Persian version of Health Assessment Questionnaire (PE-HAQ) at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
TNF-alpha at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
IL-1 beta at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
C-reactive protein at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Malondialdehyde at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Systolic blood pressure at 0, 6 and 12 weeks
Diastolic blood pressure at 0, 6 and 12 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Rheumatology Research Center (RRC), Tehran University for medical Sciences (TUMS)

🇮🇷

Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of

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