Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that are many times found in higher concentrations in the joint fluid of people with auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. They can release signals that lead to pain (most likely PGE2 related), redness, and swelling. I was sifting through some pub med articles and various other sources before I started on the fish oil. From what I found through some of the studies it showed that at high doses of fish oil, Macrophages had inhibited release of TNF alpha and IL1 (in some cases up to 80%). These are the two main mediators of swelling, and inflammation in the human body and current drugs work to suppress these such as humira and anakinra. It does this by competing with arachidonic acid (found in meats and linoleic acid) through at an enzyme (COX). Arachidonic acid can be converted to PGE2 as a product which can increase pain sensitivity. Not only does it compete with arachidonic acid inhibiting the release of the inflammatory mediators, but it is thought to itself be converted to an anti-inflammatory molecule. This is the same enzyme that NSAIDS inhibit so it seems logical that taking fish oil can enhance the action of non-steroidal drugs. It is also thought that the fish oil decreases the chances of gastrointestinal ulcers on patients taking non-steroidals. As far as my inflammation it started out in just one knee and later became symmetric spreading to many joints in my body including my hands and ankles, toes, and one elbow. I apologize for all the science jargon, but it's what I study and I currently have no life lol!
Ooooh,
OK. I was talking with a MPer (Marshall Protocol) person who said in his research the key to these diseases are the macrophages. According to him, and this is assuming I understand him, if you can increase macrophage production in the gastointestinal tract, you can heal the hyperpermeable gut lining and 'cure' these diseases.
Now, I've been leaning towards the MP but have some serious questions on some of their stances. They are against all dietary D and only recently have OKed sunlight. I'm just starting to study this, and you are so obviously beyond me, but their stance is that D is an immune suppressant so, if we are assuming we are dealing with a intracellular infection, suppessing the immune system in any way will inhibit our ability to reach the mycoplasma in muscle and other tissue.
They also apparently think that the ratio's on the 4 D tests are an important indicator of disease onset and progression.
I also question the use of Benicar in this therapy - but don't know enough to explain why. I can see the need for an exponentiator but this med sounds seriously...serious.
So, it sounds like the summary of your research is that fish oil can increase macrophages and heal/prevent ulcers which would seem to suggest that his research is in agreement with your research.
Except MPer's don't do fish oil. And as a nod to them I haven't either. So...I need to research more on what can do that/help the macrophages without D.
Did I make any sense at all?
Pip
And if macrophages start out in the gut...how did they get into the joint?
Pip
Just a point -
I'm not against fish oil - just against it for me - until I can figure out who's camp I want to join.
Pip
Edited for spelling.
The A & D are found in particularly high concentrations in the fish liver. They can be dangerous because the body stores excesses of them in fat tissue in the body instead of excreting them like it does the water-soluble vitamins. It is important to have a small amount of these particulary vitamin E because it can prevent oxidation of the fish oil, but you should not go over the recommended amount typically. Vitamin E has also been shown to reduce the amount of pain in rheumatoid arthritis, but it has no effect on swelling or redness, just pain sensitivity.I can't really tell anyone what would work for them because everyone is different. I can only tell you that I buy the Nature made double strength fish oil and take 5 1200mg pills in the morning and 5 1200 mg pills at night. It takes about 3 months to start showing significant improvement (according to some of the studies), and they seem to work best when taken with 10ml of cold-pressed olive oil per day. I use a shot glass to take this and adding lemon juice on top of it to mask the flavor, but you can also take as a dressing on salads which some people prefer. I think vitamin D can also be found in high concentrations sometimes in the fish oil capsules. D is used to increase calcium absorption in the gut and regulate immune function among other things. I wouldn't know if this works for anyone else but so far seems to have worked well for me (crosses fingers). One thing to note is that some people claim to have some mild GI symptoms with the oil (or reflux). For me dealing with the inconvenciences of the oil is far easier than dealing with the intense pain that accompanies not taking the oil. These can probably be alleviated through the use of the enteric-coated capsules.
Current meds: Sulfasalazine, Etodolac
And if macrophages start out in the gut...how did they get into the joint?
Pip
[/QUOTE]I am also following this thread with interest, I found this study which supports the addition of olive oil: http://tinyurl.com/37fjf6
Thanks for info, Rx2heal!
One thing to consider with the 3-6-9 blend is that there is a difference in the type of omega 3 oils. The omega 3 oils from cold water fish are long-chain fatty acids, but the omega 3s from flax seed (which I think are in these blends) are short chain. An enzyme in the body is required in order to convert them into the long chain (only the long chain has the anti-inflammatory action) and only a small amount (~10%) is converted.Oh good grief, and that was the one specifically recommended to me for this disease. Do you have recommendations on product lines with the right "chains"? EDIT: Read the posts again and found your recommendations, thank you. END OF EDIT.
Good thing my last bottle I bought was a small one, but the shelf had been bought out, it was the only one left. Thanks in advance, great information. SECOND EDIT: So my Udo's says its essential for proper functioning of our brains as adults. Looks like I need to ADD fish oil for inflammation, and keep taking Omega 3-6-9 for the frain bog. Hope I remember.
Like I said, I may have misunderstood what he said. It was one of those phone convo's where you're going "where the FRACK is a pen!".
I've been thinking about this and maybe he said something along the lines of "AI people have significantly less marophages in their intestines."
Could that be true?
Pip