Feasibility of conducting a randomized, placebo-controlled study assessing whether omega-3 fatty acids prevent gout flares when starting urate-lowering treatment
Abhishek A, Fuller A, Nakafero G, Zhang W, Dumbleton J, Hawkey C, et al.
Published in Rheumatol Adv Pract, Vol. 6 (3), pp. rkac086
Methodology
Feasibility randomised placebo-controlled trial in UK general practice. Adults with a gout flare in the past 12 months and serum urate of 360 micromol/L or more took omega-3 fatty acids 4 g/day or placebo for 28 weeks, starting treat-to-target urate-lowering therapy at week 5.
Key Findings
95% of the 60 randomised participants completed all visits. Flares between weeks 5 and 28 were similar (median 1 in each arm), as were flare duration (7.00 vs 7.06 days) and time to first flare (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.50-1.86). Red cell omega-3 index doubled in the active arm.
Conclusions
A community-based flare-prophylaxis trial of omega-3 is feasible; this small study showed no signal of fewer or shorter flares.
Limitations
Designed for feasibility (primary outcome was drop-out), not powered to detect an effect on flares; 60 participants; recruitment rate 2.2%.
Supplements Studied
comparable between both arms
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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