Effects of fish consumption on clinical response to targeted therapies in Japanese and Spanish patients with rheumatoid arthritis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K11597
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Amengual Olga 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 講師 (10636939)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 渥美 達也 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 教授 (20301905)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis / Diet / Targeted therapy / Fish consumption / n-3 PUFAs

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Dietary habits may influence the course of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the joints. This study aimed to investigate whether the consumption of fish rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) had an effect on treatment response in Japanese and Spanish patients with RA. In a retrospective observational study, a correlation was found between the consumption of n-3 PUFA rich fish at least once a week and the therapeutic response to antirheumatic drugs in Japanese patients. This association was not observed in Spanish patients, suggesting that the impact of fish intake on treatment may vary by region and race. A prospective observational study is currently underway to examine in detail the association between intake of fish rich in n-3 PUFA and the efficacy of antirheumatic drugs.

Free Research Field

59040

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

This study sheds light on the beneficial effect of consumption of fish rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on treatment response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, while highlighting the possible variability of this effect in different populations due to their different characteristics.