Fish oil supplementation decreases serum soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective: Soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (sRANKL) to osteoprotegerin ratio is designated as a bone metabolism equation in many rheumatologic disorders and would be modified with fish oil (FO) supplementation. Design and methods: Eighty-three females with rheumatoid arthritis were divided randomly to 40 and 43 patients treated with (1 g/day) or without FO for 3 months accompanied with conventional drugs, respectively. Osteoprotegerin, sRANKL, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) serum levels were measured before and after treatment. Results: Serum levels of osteoprotegerin increased, although sRANKL, TNF alpha and sRANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio decreased with FO therapy. A significant positive correlation was observed between sRANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio and TNF alpha levels (r=0.327, p=0.040) in the FO-treated group. Conclusions: FO could decrease the inflammatory response by lowering of serum TNF alpha levels and sRANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio. (C) 2009 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.