Could omega-3 fatty acids prevent rheumatoid arthritis?

International audienceRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease in which both genetics and environment play a role. Diet is an environmental factor that has been studied in other inflammatory conditions [1], [2], [3]. Particularly, omega-3 essential fatty acids (omega-3 FA) have been found to have a suppressive action on inflammation and are thought to modulate immune response [4], [5], [6]. New data showed that omega-3 FA may also interfere in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis, namely in the steps that lead from the pre-clinical phase to established disease, which may open new perspectives for the prevention of this disease