Ahiflower oil, an oil marketed by Natures Crops and sourced from the Buglossoides arvensis plant rich in the fatty acids ALA and SDA, similarly improved ankle swelling and markers of inflammation and platelet activity as omega-3 fish oil in rats modeled after rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a new study published in the European Journal of Nutrition.

The comparison study involved treating mice modeled after a rheumatoid arthritis were given either a fish oil emulsion or an Ahiflower emulsion standardized to 30% ALA and SDA, or a control diet modeled after the Western diet.

RA isa chronic inflammatory condition primarily effecting the joints. Platelets play a role in RA progression, and release PMVs (platelet-derived microvesicles) which retain bioactive content from the original platelets and play a role in inflammatory diseases.

Study Details

During the RA phase, ahiflower-fed mice achieved a 51% reduction in ankle thickness, compared to 48% in fish oil fed mice, each compared to the control diet.

Both fish oil and ahiflower reduced PMVs by 54% and 57% respectively, compared to the western diet control model. This was especially notable, because reducing PMVs in synovial fluid is associated with reduced joint swelling and speedier post-exercise recovery.

Finally, Ahiflower-fed mice had significantly lower pro-inflammatory cytokine levels versus both the control and fish oil groups.

“Our results demonstrated that diets enriched in ω-3 PUFA such as fish oil and Ahiflower oil have an inhibitory effect on the platelet’s ability to produce PMVs in a context of RA…,” the authors concluded. “From a therapeutic perspective, a slight change in the daily diet of patients living with RA, in combination with their current medication, could potentially provide additional symptom relief for people living with the disease.”