April 21, 2016 — A group of researchers recently proposed a novel approach to gout management in the April 2016 issue of Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. They hypothesized that omega-3 fatty acids may prevent acute gout attacks through their anti-inflammatory effects.
The study assessed 112 men, and the researchers established 2 arms:
- 31 patients in the case arm had had 2 or more gout attacks in the past year
- 81 patients in the control arm had fewer than 2 gout attacks
The researchers assessed baseline characteristics in all patients and compared age, body mass index, tophi, serum uric acid, treatment, and disease duration with patients’ serum omega-3 fatty acid levels.
Participants who reported more than 2 acute gout attacks in the past year had lower omega-3 fatty acid levels. This suggests that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation could potentially help decrease the risk of gout attacks.