Both Fish Oil and Placebo Ease Joint Pain in Women Taking AI's

Moderators

Let us know what you think about this new research studies findings.

"A new study has found that taking fish oil omega-3 fatty acids supplements eased joint pain in women diagnosed with breast cancer taking an aromatase inhibitor. Still, women who took a placebo (a fake pill that looked just like the fish oil supplement) also got relief from joint pain".

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alaskamama

Thank you!

Joanne58

I'm about to change from Tamoxifen to Femara and was planning on taking fish oil to combat possible joint pain. Now I'm not so sure if it's necessary. I'm surprised that the placebo had soybean oil. I thought soy was to be avoided when our BC is hormone positive?Guess I need to do some more research All I know is I'm really scared to make the switch to an AI after 4 years of few SEs on Tamoxifen.

I sure appreciate all the info you provide on this site, dear Moderators--thanks a million!

besa

Just my take on this for what it is worth....

This is a negative study. In this study fish oil (containing omega-3 fatty acids) was not any more effective in preventing AI induced bone pain than a placebo. Possibly additional studies may come up with different results.

I am wondering why was this study was abstracted and presented here. There are game changing studies being presented at meetings and published in peer reviewed journals - I don't feel this is one of them.

(In the discussion of the ingredients in the placebo control the authors are trying to explain the reasons for a negative result. Yes they can speculate that soy/corn oil may possibly lower AI induced bone pain but soy/corn oil could just as easily be doing nothing at all.)

My only conclusion based on this study is that fish oil may be worth taking if you are trying to lower triglyceride levels. But right now all we can say is that there are conflicting studies about whether it does or does not reduce AI induced bone pain.

BayouBabe

I used to take fish oil prior to my BC diagnosis. Found it helped with the pain of my degenerative disc disease/arthritis in my spine. Ater my BC diagnosis, I read some early studies on fish oil and a relationship between men and prostate cancer. Decided to hold off on taking more fish oil until more research is done.😕

Jennie93

I recently saw a rheumatologist about my joint pain. Just to rule out something more serious like RA. She said there is no evidence of inflammation so the pain is almost certainly caused by the meds. On the bright side that means it will almost certainly go away when my 5 years are up, on the down side it means that there's not much they can do about it. A friend gets joint injections which give almost complete relief (although temporary) but doc said that wouldn't work for me, since my pain is not caused by inflammation.

That said, I already take fish oil anyway, for heart health. It certainly can't hurt, might help.

BayouBabe

Kay - thanks for the info. I had seen that before as well. However, being BRCA + and prostate cancer also being tied to my defective gene, I decided to err on the side of caution. I am one of those odd ducks!🐔 (Yes, that's a chicken, but don't have a duck pic!)

PeggyG6020

When I started chemo I was told to stop Omega 3, which was really helping my osteoarthritis. I started it again during radiaiton, but ran out and haven't had it for about a month.I started anastrazole about 6 weeks ago. This past week I am having flu like symptoms, terrible joint and bone pain. Before this, My arthritis is so bad that doctors were always amazed that I was not on any medication. I just used the omegas ( I'm vegan.. so I use algae omega), tai chi and exercise. I have not had such bad joint pain since I started the anastrozole. My new order of algae omega should be here tomorrow, and I am going to start it again. I know that I cannot continue with these side effects, I cannot function. I also have crohns disease, and the anastrozole may be affecting that.

I will contact my MO on Monday, and see if I can stop the anastrozole for a week, to see if the omegas help. I do not want to stop anastrozole, I am 99% estrogen positive.

Has anyone found that omegas help with the joint/bone pain?

Also posting this in the anastrozole thread.