Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce joint pain and improve joint function, mainly through anti-inflammatory effects, but results vary by condition and individual.

 

Mechanisms of Action

Omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA, help reduce joint pain by:

• Decreasing inflammation: They lower the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and eicosanoids, and increase anti-inflammatory mediators like resolvins, protectins, and maresins (Deng et al., 2023; Calder, 2015; Caron et al., 2019; Souza & Norling, 2016).
• Protecting cartilage: Omega-3s can reduce cartilage-degrading enzymes and oxidative stress, potentially slowing joint degeneration (Deng et al., 2023; Caron et al., 2019).
• Modulating immune response: They alter immune cell activity, reducing the autoimmune attack seen in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (Akbar et al., 2017; Calder, 2015; Kostoglou-Athanassiou et al., 2020; Souza & Norling, 2016).

Evidence from Clinical Trials and Meta-Analyses

Condition	Effect on Pain/Function	Notes & Citations
Osteoarthritis	Modest pain relief, improved function	Consistent benefit in meta-analyses and RCTs; no major safety concerns (Deng et al., 2023; Jerab et al., 2025; Stanfar et al., 2024)
Rheumatoid Arthritis	Reduced pain, morning stiffness, NSAID use	Multiple RCTs and reviews show significant improvements (Akbar et al., 2017; Geusens et al., 1994; Rajaei et al., 2015; Kwatra et al., 2021; Jerab et al., 2025; Goldberg & Katz, 2007; Kostoglou-Athanassiou et al., 2020; Souza & Norling, 2016)
General/Other Pain	Mixed or no effect in large trials	Some large studies in older adults found no significant benefit (Soens et al., 2023)
Combination Supplements	Enhanced effect with antioxidants	Pilot studies suggest greater benefit when combined with other anti-inflammatory agents (Caturla et al., 2011)

Figure 2: Table summarizing omega-3 effects on joint pain by condition.

Safety and Limitations

• Generally safe with no increase in adverse events compared to placebo (Deng et al., 2023).
• Effect size is modest and may not be clinically significant for all individuals or pain types (Soens et al., 2023; Goldberg & Katz, 2007).
• Best evidence is for inflammatory joint conditions (RA, OA); less clear for non-inflammatory pain.

Conclusion

Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce joint pain and improve function, especially in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, primarily by reducing inflammation. Benefits are modest and may vary by individual and condition, but omega-3s are generally safe as a supplement for joint health.

References

Deng, W., Yi, Z., Yin, E., Lu, R., You, H., & Yuan, X. (2023). Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation for patients with osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-023-03855-w

Akbar, U., Yang, M., Kurian, D., & Mohan, C. (2017). Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Rheumatic Diseases: A Critical Review. JCR: Journal of Clinical Rheumatology, 23, 330–339. https://doi.org/10.1097/rhu.0000000000000563

Soens, M., Sesso, H., Manson, J., Fields, K., Buring, J., Lee, I., Cook, N., Kim, E., Bubes, V., Dushkes, R., Serhan, C., & Rathmell, J. (2023). The effect of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on pain prevalence and severity in older adults: a large-scale ancillary study of the VITamin D and OmegA-3 triaL (VITAL).. Pain. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003044

Caturla, N., Funes, L., Perez-Fons, L., & Micol, V. (2011). A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of the effect of a combination of lemon verbena extract and fish oil omega-3 fatty acid on joint management.. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine, 17 11, 1051-63. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2010.0410

Geusens, P., Wouters, C., Nijs, J., Jiang, Y., & Dequeker, J. (1994). Long-term effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in active rheumatoid arthritis. A 12-month, double-blind, controlled study.. Arthritis and rheumatism, 37 6, 824-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.1780370608

Rajaei, E., Mowla, K., Ghorbani, A., Bahadoram, S., Bahadoram, M., & Dargahi-Malamir, M. (2015). The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Patients With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Receiving DMARDs Therapy: Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Global Journal of Health Science, 8, 18 - 25. https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v8n7p18

Kwatra, B., Kaur, H., Majumdar, J., Shah, M., Upadhyaya, M., & Ahlawat, R. (2021). An Overview of Analeptic Applications of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports. https://doi.org/10.9734/jsrr/2021/v27i630405

Jerab, D., Blangero, F., Da Costa, P., De Brito Alves, J., Kefi, R., Jamoussi, H., Morio, B., & Eljaafari, A. (2025). Beneficial Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Obesity and Related Metabolic and Chronic Inflammatory Diseases. Nutrients, 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17071253

Calder, P. (2015). Marine omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: Effects, mechanisms and clinical relevance.. Biochimica et biophysica acta, 1851 4, 469-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2014.08.010

Goldberg, R., & Katz, J. (2007). A meta-analysis of the analgesic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for inflammatory joint pain. Pain, 129, 210-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2007.01.020

Kostoglou-Athanassiou, I., Athanassiou, L., & Athanassiou, P. (2020). The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Rheumatoid Arthritis. Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology, 31, 190 - 194. https://doi.org/10.31138/mjr.31.2.190

Caron, J., Gandy, J., Brown, J., & Sordillo, L. (2019). Omega-3 fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid oxymetabolites modulate the inflammatory response of equine recombinant interleukin1β-stimulated equine synoviocytes.. Prostaglandins & other lipid mediators, 142, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2019.02.007

Stanfar, K., Hawes, C., Ghajar, M., Byham-Gray, L., & Radler, D. (2024). Diet modification reduces pain and improves function in adults with osteoarthritis: a systematic review.. Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13317

Souza, P., & Norling, L. (2016). Implications for eicosapentaenoic acid- and docosahexaenoic acid-derived resolvins as therapeutics for arthritis.. European journal of pharmacology, 785, 165-173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.05.072