Lipids and Arthritis

Lipids and Health
Zouyan He

Zouyan He

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

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Erika Kwek

Erika Kwek

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

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Zhen-Yu Chen

Zhen-Yu Chen

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

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First published: 17 February 2020

Abstract

It is estimated that 355 million people suffer from arthritis in the world. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common type of autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints. Humans obtain about 25–40% calories from dietary fats. This article summarizes the findings of recent studies regarding the effect of dietary fat on the risk and treatment of RA. The thorough literature review has clearly demonstrated that the effects of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on RA are multifaceted. Research from both animal experiments and human clinical trials provide solid evidence that n-3 PUFAs and MUFAs possess an anti-inflammatory activity and have beneficial effects on RA. In contrast, SFAs may promote arthritis by enhancing inflammation and disturbing bone homeostasis. Amongst n-6 PUFAs, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) are antiarthritic, whereas the effects of linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) on arthritic progression still remain elusive.

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