Q. I am a veterinarian. In my world, fairly high doses of EPA and DHA (components of fish oil) are recommended for osteoarthritis. For instance, a recommended dose for a 50 lb dog is 3,200 mg.
Is there any carry-over to this concept in people with osteoarthritis? Are high doses of fish oil safe in people?
A. Fish oil has traditionally been recommended for the relief of joint pain, but it has been somewhat difficult to determine the effective dose. In a recent randomized trial, rheumatoid arthritis patients getting 5,500 mg of fish rich in EPA and DHA daily did better than those getting the placebo dose of 400 mg a day (Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, online Sept. 30, 2013).
Previous studies have not identified many serious side effects of fish oil in humans, but men who take high doses are at increased risk of prostate cancer (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Aug. 7, 2013). We always appreciate the parallels between veterinary and human medicine as well as the differences.
You might be interested in a few of the interviews we have done with veterinarians on topics such as vector-borne infectious diseases, heart disease and behavioral medicine, and, of course, the healing power of pets.
