The Effects of Fish Oil on Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain
- Conditions
- Chronic Low Back Pain
- Interventions
- Dietary Supplement: PlaceboDietary Supplement: Fish oilProcedure: HotpackingProcedure: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Registration Number
- NCT02774109
- Lead Sponsor
- Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
- Brief Summary
Objectives:
To investigate the efficacy of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (NLBP).
Methods and Materials:
Twenty-nine patients with chronic NLBP were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. For 8 weeks, participants in the experimental group received omega-3 PUFA at 3000 mg/day plus physical therapy, while those in the control group received placebo plus physical therapy. The visual analog pain scale, pressure algometer, Biering-Sorenson test, Roland-Morris Low Back Pain and Disability Questionnaire (RMQ), and occupational burnout inventory (OBI) were used in assessments at baseline (T0) and after 4 (T1) and 8 weeks (T2). Serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were checked at baseline and T2.
- Detailed Description
Low back pain is a common symptom in modern society. However, nearly 85% of those who seek medical care for low back pain have no specific history and no specific finding in image study, and therefore do not receive a specific diagnosis. This type of low back pain is termed "nonspecific low back pain." Fish oil contains omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA can reduce the synthesis of prostaglandin E2. They are also the precursors of the E-resolvin and D-resolvin that suppress inflammatory cytokine production and act to resolve inflammation. Several previous studies showed that fish oil has the effect of anti-inflammation and pain reduction without side effect that affecting stomach and renal function. Therefore, fish oil is considered a new type of NSAID, and many studies are investigating its effect of anti-inflammation and pain reduction on different diseases. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of fish oil on patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 29
- Male and female aged 20-50
- Low back pain duration over 3 months and pain intensity over 40mm when assessed with 100mm VAS
- History of major trauma or surgery at back
- Obvious spinal pathology on plain film (e.g. scoliosis, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis)
- Not suitable for taking fish oil or receiving physical modality treatment
- Having other inflammatory disease (e.g. rheumatic arthritis, endometriosis, ankylosing spondylitis, infection)
- Pregnancy
- Regularly taking fish oil or fatty fish more than 2 times per week
- Having coagulopathy or currently taking anti-coagulation agent
- Receiving oral or topical NSAID in the past one week
- Taking oral corticosteroid in the past 6 weeks
- Receiving local injection of corticosteroid or prolotherapy in the past 3 months
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Experimental group Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) Participants in the experimental group will take fish oil (five 1000mg fish oil soft capsules per day, each capsule containing 350mg EPA and 250mg DHA) and receive physical modality treatment (hotpacking 15min and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) 15min, three times a week) for 8 weeks Control group Placebo Participants in the control group will take placebo (five 1000mg sunflower oil soft capsules per day) and receive physical modality treatment (hotpacking 15min and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) 15min, three times a week) for 8 weeks Experimental group Fish oil Participants in the experimental group will take fish oil (five 1000mg fish oil soft capsules per day, each capsule containing 350mg EPA and 250mg DHA) and receive physical modality treatment (hotpacking 15min and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) 15min, three times a week) for 8 weeks Experimental group Hotpacking Participants in the experimental group will take fish oil (five 1000mg fish oil soft capsules per day, each capsule containing 350mg EPA and 250mg DHA) and receive physical modality treatment (hotpacking 15min and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) 15min, three times a week) for 8 weeks Control group Hotpacking Participants in the control group will take placebo (five 1000mg sunflower oil soft capsules per day) and receive physical modality treatment (hotpacking 15min and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) 15min, three times a week) for 8 weeks Control group Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) Participants in the control group will take placebo (five 1000mg sunflower oil soft capsules per day) and receive physical modality treatment (hotpacking 15min and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) 15min, three times a week) for 8 weeks
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method 100mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Week 8 (T2) Assess low back pain intensity (current, least and worst in the past one week)
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Roland Morris Low Back Pain and Disability Questionnaire (RMQ) Baseline (T0), Week 4 (T1), Week 8 (T2) Assess the impact of low back pain on daily life with Taiwan version of Roland Morris Low Back Pain and Disability Questionnaire
Blood test: hs-CRP Baseline (T0) and Week 8 (T2) Draw 10ml blood for checking the level of hs-CRP
Pressure pain threshold Baseline (T0), Week 4 (T1), Week 8 (T2) Assess pressure pain threshold with pressure algometer at quadratus lumborum and sacroiliac joint
Occupational burnout inventory Baseline (T0), Week 4 (T1), Week 8 (T2) Assess objective occupational burnout feeling
Biering-Sorenson test Baseline (T0), Week 4 (T1), Week 8 (T2) Assess back extensor endurance
100mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Baseline (T0), Week 4 (T1) Assess low back pain intensity (current, least and worst in the past one week)
Blood test: ESR Baseline (T0) and Week 8 (T2) Draw 10ml blood for checking the level of ESR
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
🇨🇳Kaohsiung city, Taiwan