Cod liver oil cuts need for NSAIDs

Rheumatoid arthritis patients who take a daily dose of cod liver oil could reduce the need for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by one-third, according to a study published online in the journal Rheumatology.

University of Dundee researchers studied 97 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Half were given 10g of high-strength cod liver oil every day and half a placebo.

After nine months, nearly 40% of those in the cod liver oil group were able to cut their daily NSAID requirement by 30%, compared with just 10% of the placebo group.

The authors said cod liver oil offered pain management without the harmful side-effects of NSAIDs.