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Knee osteoarthritis affects approximately 654 million people over the age of 40 worldwide, causing symptoms such as pain, functional limitations, and even disability. Currently, there is no definitive medication for treating knee osteoarthritis. The mainstream view is that reducing inflammation might be the key to treating this condition.

Synovial fluid accumulation and synovial thickening can lead to more severe knee pain, primarily due to synovitis. Synovitis can be modulated to reduce inflammatory changes, potentially improving knee osteoarthritis symptoms.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential fatty acids crucial for human health. They must be obtained through diet as the body cannot synthesize them in sufficient amounts. The primary Omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA, in particular, has anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce inflammation. It primarily comes from marine sources and is a type of marine Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Research indicates that marine Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can reduce inflammation. For example, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, fish oil used alongside nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce joint pain and morning stiffness. However, attempts to apply the benefits of fish oil observed in rheumatoid arthritis to knee osteoarthritis have not yielded promising results.

Researchers believe this may be due to the bioavailability of fish oil not being sufficient to alleviate knee osteoarthritis symptoms. This study explores the use of krill oil, which is rich in marine Omega-3 fatty acids, for treating knee osteoarthritis. Krill oil has better bioavailability and contains the antioxidant astaxanthin, which can reduce free radicals and inflammation. Researchers hypothesized that krill oil might be more effective than fish oil in treating knee osteoarthritis.

In this randomized clinical trial, 260 participants were recruited and randomly divided into a krill oil group and a placebo group. The study included follow-ups at weeks 0, 12, and 24, with MRI scans conducted during the screening period and at 24 weeks.

Based on the follow-up results, there were no significant differences in the systemic scores between the two groups. Secondary outcomes and imaging results also showed no significant differences.

Despite marketing claims that krill oil products can significantly improve inflammation symptoms such as knee osteoarthritis, the latest study published in JAMA, titled "Krill Oil for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial" found no differences between krill oil and other marine Omega-3 substances in treating knee osteoarthritis. There were no noticeable improvements in knee osteoarthritis symptoms.

This study did not provide a new treatment solution for knee osteoarthritis, which might be disappointing. It is possible that the method or dosage of krill oil administration was not sufficient to target knee osteoarthritis effectively. Researchers may continue to explore new drugs or delivery methods that can allow Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids like krill oil to directly target knee osteoarthritis in the future. We will continue to follow this team's research developments.

Reference：

Laslett LL, Scheepers LEJM, Antony B, et al. Krill Oil for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2024;331(23):1997–2006. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.6063