Fish-oil dietary supplementation in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon: a double-blind, controlled, prospective study

DiGiacomo RA

Published in American Journal of Medicine

Methodology

Double-blind, placebo (olive oil)-controlled prospective randomised trial with controlled cold-challenge testing of digital blood flow and vasospasm thresholds before and after 12 weeks of fish oil.

Key Findings

In 32 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon, high-dose fish oil (about 12 g/day) for 12 weeks raised the digital-ischaemia onset temperature and prolonged time to onset of vasospasm during cold challenge in patients with primary Raynaud's; no significant benefit was seen in secondary Raynaud's associated with connective tissue disease.

Conclusions

Fish oil improved cold tolerance and delayed vasospasm in primary, but not secondary, Raynaud's phenomenon.

Limitations

Very small sample; short duration; high pill burden and gastrointestinal side effects limiting real-world use; olive oil comparator not fully inert; single centre; 1989 findings never replicated in a large modern trial.