Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is of the most common and debilitating oral pathologies. Some studies show up to 25% of the population being affected by RAS.
The disease has three clinical variants: minor, major and herpetiform aphthous. The most common form however is minor RAS.
RAS can be caused by a variety of factors: immune and hematological deficiencies, stress, trauma, food allergies, or endocrine disturbances.
Most treatments to date only treat the symptoms of RAS, such as topical lidocaine. They don’t treat the underlying causes. Some drugs can reduce the frequencies of RAS, such as colchine and prednisolone, and thalidomide – however they have many negative side effects.
Omega-3 supplements have long shown significant benefits for inflammatory disease like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus and even chronic periodontitis. So can omega-3 have similar benefits in reducing occurrence and severity of RAS?
In a double blind clinical trail, 40 patients with minor RAS were randomly split into case and control groups. The case group received 1000mg capsules of omega-3, while the control group received placebos, everyday for 6 months.
In the first 3 months, the case group showed:
- Significant (p<0.0001) reduction in the number of ulcers
- Significant reduction in average duration of the ulcers
- Significant reduction in the number of sites of ulceration
- However, no reduction in the size or pain of the ulcerations
After 6 months, the case group showed:
- Significant reduction in all categories, including the size and pain of the ulcers.
How Omega-3 works to reduce RAS:
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have two main members called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), both of which have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory characteristics.
EPA and DHA change the cellular function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, down regulate lymphocyte activity (by decreasing mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes like glutathione peroxide and superoxide dismutase).
So, they prevent the tissue damage and help healing of ulcers. This can be a critical recommendation for patients that have a history of RAS.
Omega-3! Another tool in your toolbox against aphthous stomatitis!