Association of plasma n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with synovitis in the knee: the MOST study

Baker KR, Matthan NR, Lichtenstein AH, et al. · Osteoarthritis and Cartilage

Higher total n-3 and DHA levels were inversely associated with patellofemoral cartilage loss; the n-6 arachidonic acid was positively associated with synovitis. No association with tibiofemoral cartilage loss.

Population

Adults with or at risk of knee OA (MOST cohort), cross-sectional MRI analysis

Intervention

Fasting plasma phospholipid fatty acids (observational exposure)

Limitations

Cross-sectional and observational — cannot establish causation; blood fatty acids are an imperfect proxy for intake; partial-region findings could be chance.