Diet and Rheumatoid Arthritis in Women: A Possible Protective Effect of Fish Consumption

Some researchers have hypothesized that omega-3 fatty acids, found primarily in fish oils, may protect against the development of rheumatoid arthritis. We conducted a population-based case-control study in women, comparing 324 incident rheumatoid arthritis cases with 1,245 controls. We used a food frequency questionnaire to ascertain diet during a 1-year period 5 years before a reference date (first physician visit for joint symptoms). Consumption of broiled or baked fish, but not of other types of fish, was associated with a decreased risk of rheumatoid arthritis. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) for 1-