Marine Oil Supplements for Arthritis Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

Senftleber NK, Nielsen SM, Andersen JR, et al. · Nutrients

Small overall pain reduction (SMD -0.24, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.07) driven by rheumatoid arthritis trials; in the 5 osteoarthritis trials the effect was not significant (SMD -0.17, 95% CI -0.57 to 0.24). Evidence quality rated low.

Population

42 randomized trials of marine oils in arthritis (RA, OA, other); 30 trials with usable pain data

Intervention

Oral marine oil supplements (fish, krill, mussel oils)

Comparator

Placebo/control

Limitations

OA subgroup small and null; heterogeneous doses and populations; low-quality evidence overall. Its positive signal is for RA, not OA.