Hi
Just wondering as a "newbie" I keep hearing from friends who have my best interests at heart ( I think ! )
On hearing of my new diagnosis of RA consistently ask " have you tried Cod liver oil".
Well my question is, why have I not seen it mentioned on the forum ?
Has anyone tried it for any period of time and if so has it had any positive benefits with your joint pain or stiffness.
Thank you so much in advance as always.
Shy
I have done a bit of reading on this and it is supposed to make the flares and damage from arthritis less severe. It only has an effect if you take 3000mg. I have been taking it and have noticed my flares are not as bad and not as long so it is worth it for me so far.
I eat fish several times a week.. lots of leafy green veg, nuts and flax seeds in my cereal which gives me all the omega 3 etc I need. Prefer to spend my money on nice food than pills. Who know whether it affects joint pain as I don’t have any! (Well not exactly true, I didn’t have any until fairly recently when osteoarthritis got worse, but my RA is calm).
It does seem to be one thing that does have some evidence behind it, so if your diet is poor then maybe worth it. For me the whole process of having a good diet is about taking care of myself (and OH of course.,,) and it is an important part of the way I live. Sitting down 3 times a day to enjoy eating quietly and calmly is part of how I pace myself too.
Thank you HHMy diet is good with lots of green veg, nuts, oily fish, fruit and plenty of water already so that's very reassuring thank you.
P.s.
Forgotten the Battenburg but you can't be good all of the time.
😳Regards Shy
You will find every man & his dog “think” they know better than you....& often better than your rheumatology team ....how to deal with RA.
Unfortunately, they 99% don’t usually even understand the difference between RA & OA....so just smile sweetly & say you will try their suggestions
& carry on listening to your doctors.
I suggest you have a word with your rheumy nurse before you spend any money on supplements, as many so called healthy herbs etc can interfere with any prescribed meds.
Any fish liver oil is usually not recommended.
Fish liver oil (cod liver oil) no, but Omega 3 Fish Oil has proven to be beneficial for RD, even thought it may decrease disease activity in some. I agree it must be discussed with our Rheumy though. Even such easily purchased supplements can be detrimental for some with comorbidities, those taking blood thinners for example.
Yes I was advised by my then doctor many years ago not to take as it could interfere with blood clotting & also something to do with fatty liver disease.As has been said many times...sticking to a healthy balanced diet, so that your general health is good is the easiest way to help RA.
This is a good example of if considering supplements we need to ask our Consultants, GP or even Pharmacist before, What may be thought beneficial for one condition could be quite different for another. I supplement because I don’t eat much fish, but because I get some Omega 3 from what I do eat (largely Mediterranean based) my Rheumy suggested I didn't take full recommended dose.
I've also read that Omega 3 fish oil is much preferable to fish liver oil. My rheumatologist and the rheumatology pharmacist both agree it is good to take Omega 3 as it can help the joints.
Thank you AC ( feels better 🙂 )I have taken all the advice given to me reference this subject since I asked the question which is a resounding .. Dont listen to them !
Thank you so much.
Shy
The dietary advice pamphlet (from Versus Arthritis, I think) that I was given by my rheumy nurse said that Omega 3 from oily fish etc is good so I've started eating that more often. As AC says, it said that supplements (if necessary) should be made from fish oil, NOT fish liver oil. There's probably a similar pamphlet/advice page on the NRAS website 😉
Edit - think this is the link to the NRAS page
Great advice here from everyone and it is great for me to read too as I am relatively new to this too. Since my diagnosis I have had well meaning friends tell me I would cure it with this that and the other ... the favourite one being cider vinegar in water everyday 🙄 please don’t fall for this one. I choose not to spend the little I have on supplements which is more often than not expensive pee. Eating a varied diet with fresh veg if you can is much more beneficial and if you are lacking a vitamin that matters it can be checked by your gp and supplemented properly. Fish oil has some merit and the versus arthritis is a reliable source. Still I would ask your rheumy before doing anything
It is hard to know how to respond to my well meaning friends (and strangers who stand there telling me I could heal myself). I try to say nod and agree with them and go on my Merry way... not so easy when they follow up with have your done it yet 😬
Hi Bubblyalex
I now have enough ammo to deal with well meaning question/s like this, thanks to people like you on this forum.
Many thanks
Shy
🧐
Do what I used to do....people have long since given up giving “good advice”.
Quote a foul sounding diet...& tell them it will be good for “your little trouble too“.... Because most people have got a little trouble they don’t talk about but if they think you know about.... it they will shut up trying to “help”!
Solid gold ! ☺️
Fish body oil is better for you as cod liver oil contains the breakdown ingredients from the liver I take salmon oil. Its not a cure for anything but it certainly hasn't made things any worse.
Ah, well meaning friends, we all have them! It has cropped up here from time to time. There is something in it, especially if like me you're not too partial to fish, especially oily fish. Though better for RD than cod liver oil is Omega 3 Fish Oil, it's the only bought supplement my Rheumy thought would be beneficial for me. I take 2000mg daily as aside from some fish I get Omega 3 from other sources, nuts, seeds, cruciforous veg, avocado. I'd suggest you check with your Rheumy too (as you would with any supplements or vitamins you may be thinking of taking) just so he/she can ok it for you & is aware you're taking it, if you choose to that is. My h however takes cod liver as it's more beneficial for his health. This explains more fully the differences & benefits healthline.com/health/cod-l... It's a US site but the info re comparisons are still appropriate for us here.
NomoreheelsGreat point about feeding every thing through my rheumy team regarding eating & drinking and because "just try this" advice could be a recipe for pain going forward.
Have not met the Rheumy team yet but that is already going to be a golden rule of mine from day 1.
Sincerely appreciated.
Regards
Shy
Its also worth remembering if diet and/or supplements worked would the NHS spend millions on medications. I don't think so, and instead of seeing a specialist team you'd just get a leaflet from the GP and off you go. I think a healthy diet works to improve health for everyone, but it can be a luxury I help out at a foodbank so have seen that the lack of food education in schools impacts as those children grow up and have children of their own. I had a mum who taught me to make pastry etc and I passed those skills on albeit with a Kenwood and Magimix, I'm celiac so gluten free long before RA hit so from experience the GF approach is probably subjective and if it works for you there's no harm in it. If your considering going GF then before you do and you have some symptoms of Celiac get a blood test from the GP as you must be eating it to be tested,
Healthy diet and less bullshit !Message received loud & clear Medway-lady.
All round thanks too for being another one of our heroes helping out at a food Bank 💚
Many thanks
Shy
Cheers, I just did computer stuff but it helps. I can type quite fast and worked in Benefits/Local Authority and Courts so seen a lot in need. We can only each do what we can and it makes me think of how very lucky I am.
still catching up here....several yrs ago my son warned us off codliver oil as coronary implications [to do with sea pollution] so now take hi strength glucosamine with chondroitin and vit C. Also hi strength B12 for foggy brain. Varied opinions on cod liver oil tho.
CBD OIL Medium Strength
Supplements
Supplements 
Iron supplementation and flares
CBD oil
