Demographic and baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Low-dose fish oil | High-dose fish oil | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | 101 | 101 | |
| Age (years): mean (SD) | 61 (10) | 61 (10) | 0.84 |
| Gender (% female) | 40 | 59 | <0.01 |
| BMI (kg/m2): mean (SD) | 29 (4) | 29 (5) | 0.67 |
| WOMAC* pain: mean (SD) | 15 (9) | 16 (9) | 0.35 |
| WOMAC* function: mean (SD) | 49 (29) | 54 (34) | 0.28 |
| Quality of life (AQoL-4D): mean (SD) | 0.77 (0.27) | 0.74 (0.25) | 0.50 |
| NSAID use (%) | 34 | 30 | 0.54 |
| Radiographic knee OA (OARSI%)20 | 96/101 (95%) | 98/101 (97%) | 0.47 |
| Total OARSI joint space narrowing :mean (SD) | 1.7 (0.1) | 1.8 (0.1) | 0.62 |
| Total OARSI osteophyte score: mean (SD) | 2.0 (0.3) | 2.3 (0.2) | 0.42 |
| MRI Total cartilage volume (μL): mean (SD) | 7.46 (2.09) (n=56) | 6.60 (1.73) (n=60) | 0.02† |
| MRI BML | |||
| Any BML (%) | 44/55 (82%) | 47/55 (85%) | 0.61 |
| BML size (mm2): median (IQR) | 118 (209) | 122 (219) | 0.70 |
| CRP: median (IQR) | 1.5 (2.2) | 1.7 (2.3) | 0.43 |
| Plasma omega-3 fatty acids | |||
| Plasma EPA (20:5n-3): mean (SD) | 1.3 (0.7) (n=95) | 1.5 (1.1) (n=94) | 0.17 |
| Plasma DHA (22:6n-3): mean (SD) | 3.4 (1.0) (n=95) | 3.5 (1.2) (n=94) | 0.75 |
*Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, scored on the NRS 3.1 10-point numerical scale.21 Pain scores range (0,50) and function scores range (0,170).
†p=0.26 after gender adjustment.
BMI, body mass index; BML, bone marrow lesion; CRP, C reactive protein; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; NRS, numerical rating scale; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; OA, osteoarthritis; OARSI, Osteoarthritis Research Society International; WOMAC, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index.