Pittsburgh, November 10, 2004 -- Using omega-3 fatty acids for neck and low-back pain from disc and arthritic causes may be an alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), according to a study presented at a recent annual meeting of the American College of Nutrition Symposium on Advances in Clinical Nutrition in Long Beach, CA.

Joseph C. Maroon, MD, professor and vice chairman of the department of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a member of the American College of Nutrition, presented the prospective study called “Natural Alternatives to Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatories.”

Annually, more than 100,000 people in the United States are hospitalized and nearly 20,000 patients die of complications related to the use of NSAIDs for the treatment of pain and inflammation. Recently, Vioxx™, one of the most widely used NSAIDs, was pulled from the U.S. market due to heart complications.

Dr. Maroon and colleague Jeffrey Bost, PAC, surveyed 120 patients they had placed on omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA), found in fish oil, for treatment of their neck and low back pain, which resulted from disc disease and arthritis. Of those patients, 59 percent experienced decreased joint pain and 68 percent were able to discontinue NSAIDs including Vioxx, Motrin™, Celebrex™ and Bextra™. The study also found that most patients had no side effects and that 86 percent planned to continue the use of omega-3 EFAs.

Discogenic disease is one of the greatest causes of pain and disability in the United States, affecting approximately 1 out of 4 people at some time in their lives. Many studies have shown a marked inflammatory reaction at the site of the herniated lumbar discs, according to Dr. Maroon.

“The inflammatory cytokines interleuken-1 alpha, interleuken-6 and tissue necrosis factor-alpha are routinely found at the site of disc rupture and markedly enhance arachidonic acid, which is known to cause pain,” he said. “Omega-3 fatty acids limit the release of arachidonic acid and pro-inflammatory prostaglandin.”

Furthermore, according to Dr. Maroon, the cost of these natural compounds to the patient is 50 to 100 percent less than the average cost of many of these drugs.

“It is important for patients to understand that less toxic alternatives to anti-inflammatories are available,” said Dr. Maroon. “Previous studies have shown that omega-3 EFAs prevent blood clots, reduce pain, enhance the immune system and cause dilation of the blood vessels. In fact, as of September of this year, the FDA now recognizes that omega-3 EFAs can prevent coronary artery disease. Two clinical trials also have shown that arthritis patients who take fish oils could eliminate or sharply reduce their use of NSAIDs.”