Omega 3 Fish Oil For Back and Neck Pain

15 May 2006

Fish oil supplements containing Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) might help treat neck pain and back pain, a new study* shows.

Such supplements might be "a safer alternative" to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for some patients with spine-related pain, say doctors from University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

They studied 250 people seen by a neurosurgeon for nonsurgical neck pain or back pain, mainly with degenerative disc disease, in which discs that serve as shock absorbers in the spine wear down.

Degenerative disc disease is one of the greatest causes of pain and disability in the United States, affecting approximately one out of four people at some time in their lives. Most patients - 78% - were taking a 1.2g daily dose of Omega 3 EFAs. The others were taking the 2.4g daily dose. After a month on the Omega 3 fats more than half had stopped taking any NSAIDs for pain (59%).

Back Pain and Neck Pain Reduced:

The survey's findings showed:

• 60% of patients noted an overall improvement in their pain and said their overall pain had improved.


• 60% of patients specifically reported less joint pain.


• 80% of patients stated that they were satisfied with their improvement.


• 88% of patients said they would keep taking fish oil supplements.

Best Omega 3 Sources in Food
The best sources of Omega 3 are fish and flax seeds (also known as linseed). Flax seeds and their oil are less powerful than fish oil – you need either a flat tablespoon of flax seeds or a dessertspoon full of flax seed oil daily to make a difference. Cod liver oil has the greatest percentage of Omega 3 fats.

The best fish are the oily ones such as mackerel, salmon and herring. Favour wild salmon over farmed salmon wherever possible.

Recommended Daily Dose – Omega 3 oils
Ideal daily intake is 3000mg a day if you have arthritis or cardiovascular disease, or half that if you don’t. Ideally you should get half of this from food – eating 100g of fish three to four times a week and adding flax seed oil to dressings and daily meals (see Healthy Recipes for suggestions), and the other half from supplements. Choose higher potency pills which clearly label contents.

Caution: If you are on blood thinners consult your doctor before adding Omega 3, as fish oil thins the blood and can multiply the effects of blood thinning medication.

How to Use Omega 3 Oils in Everyday Dishes

• To preserve active ingredients Omega 3 oils should ideally be used in recipes that don't require heating the oil above 167° F (75° C) for prolonged periods of time.


• Omega 3 oils can be exposed to modest heat under 212° F (100° C) for a short period of time without damage. (All oils, including those generally labelled as cooking oils, should not be heated beyond their smoke point. The smoke generated from heating oil above its smoke point is carcinogenic.)


• Omega 3 oils like flax seed or walnut oil can be added after cooking, to both enhance and carry flavor.


• Udo’s Oil is a plant-based Omega 3 oil created by nutritionist Udo Erasmus, trans fat pioneer and author of the best-selling book, Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill. He has some great suggestions for using Omega 3 in daily diet.
  Visit Udo Erasmus's Website

* Study by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's neurological surgery department - Surgical Neurology, April 2006; vol 65: pp 326-331

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