Should You Consider Taking Omega-3 Supplements to Help With RA?

Should You Consider Taking Omega-3 Supplements to Help With RA?
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Published on June 24, 2025
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Note: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve supplements for safety or effectiveness. Talk to a healthcare professional about whether a supplement is the right fit for your individual health, and about any potential drug interactions or safety concerns.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you might consider adding omega-3 fatty acids — a healthy fat found in fish, nuts, and seeds — to your treatment plan.

“Omega-3s have been shown to lower inflammation in the body, which, in turn, may help control symptoms of RA,” says Jennifer Bruning, RDN, a Chicago-based registered dietitian-nutritionist and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Here’s what you need to know about the benefits and risks of turning to omega-3 supplements for RA.

What the Research Shows

“Studies suggest that omega-3s improve tender and swollen joints and joint stiffness,” says Rita Raturi, MD, a rheumatologist with Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health. These are the hallmark symptoms of RA.

In a recent meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials that included more than 1,000 patients with RA, researchers found that those taking omega-3 supplements had less joint tenderness and greater improvement in inflammation markers than those who weren’t taking supplements.

Another study found that patients with early RA who took omega-3s responded better to rheumatoid medications, Dr. Raturi says. A better response to medications may slow RA progression and improve symptoms.

Other research has focused on the potential benefits of combining omega-3 supplements with anti-inflammatory eating patterns. Based on the evidence, the authors of one review recommend nutrition therapy, specifically an anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet, as an adjunct to medical treatment for RA. They suggest eating fatty fish twice weekly or taking 2 grams (g) of omega-3 fatty acid supplements daily.

Benefits and Risks of Omega-3 Supplements

As an addition to your RA treatment regimen, omega-3 supplements have several pros and cons.

Benefits

In addition to improving RA symptoms, omega-3 supplements may lower the risk of other health conditions.

“Heart disease in rheumatoid arthritis is a major source of morbidity and mortality,” says Bret Sohn, MD, a rheumatologist with Stamford Health in Connecticut. Indeed, RA patients have a 50 to 70 percent greater risk of heart disease than the general population, likely because of higher levels of inflammation and the negative effects that some RA medications can have on heart health.

Omega-3 fatty acids may help lower the risk of heart disease, Dr. Sohn notes. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that included nearly 150,000 people found that taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements was linked with a reduction in major cardiovascular events (such as heart attack and stroke) and death from heart disease. But the studies didn’t look at patients with RA specifically, so it’s unclear how omega-3s might boost heart health in this population.

Risks

While generally safe, omega-3 supplements carry some risks and side effects. The most common side effects are diarrhea, bloating, and nausea, Sohn says. Other symptoms may include bad breath, headache, heartburn, and sweat with a bad odor.

In addition, fish oil supplements (the most common form of omega-3 supplement) may have an unpleasant “fishy” taste, Bruning says.

High doses of omega-3 supplements may increase the risk of bleeding in people who take warfarin or other anticoagulant medicines.

 It can also trigger symptoms in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD, in which stomach acid travels into the esophagus, causing heartburn, sore throat, and coughing), Bruning says.
Doses over 1 g per day may raise the risk of atrial fibrillation, an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm that increases the risk of stroke.

“It’s important to work with your healthcare provider to determine how much, if any, of a supplement is right for you,” Bruning says.

Note that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate dietary supplements like medicines. It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to meet safety standards and labeling requirements.

How Much Is Enough?

“I personally favor using omega-3 fatty acids, both because of the potential impact on RA but also because of the cardiovascular benefit,” Sohn says. He often recommends a daily dosage of 3 g to people with RA, noting that it can take at least 12 weeks to notice an improvement in symptoms.

Talk to your doctor to see if omega-3 supplements are appropriate for you, taking your health history and other medications into consideration. “Follow dosages carefully to avoid negative side effects with any supplement,” Bruning says.

Questions for Your Doctor

  • Do I stand to benefit from omega-3 supplements?
  • Do I have any contraindications that make omega-3 supplements unsafe?
  • What dosage should I take?
  • What should I look for in an omega-3 supplement?
  • How long will it take to see improvement in symptoms?

The Takeaway

  • Omega-3 fatty acids are a healthy fat found in fish, nuts, and seeds that helps lower inflammation.
  • Research suggests that omega-3 supplements and a diet rich in omega-3s can improve stiff, tender joints and lower inflammation markers in people with RA.
  • Side effects are often mild and may include diarrhea, bloating, and nausea. In high doses, omega-3 supplements may increase bleeding risk in people taking anticoagulants, trigger symptoms in people with GERD, and lead to irregular heartbeat.
  • While omega-3 supplements may be beneficial for RA, it’s important to talk to your doctor about whether they’re right for you.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Wang W et al. Effects of Omega-3 Supplementation on Lipid Metabolism, Inflammation, and Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Clinical Rheumatology. 2024.
  2. Lourdudoss C et al. Are Dietary Vitamin D, Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Folate Associated with Treatment Results in Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis? Data from a Swedish Population-Based Prospective Study. BMJ Open. June 2017.
  3. Nikiphorou E et al. Nutrition and Its Role in Prevention and Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Autoimmunity Reviews. July 2023.
  4. Johri N et al. Association of Cardiovascular Risks in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Management, Treatment and Future Perspectives. Health Sciences Review. September 2023.
  5. Khan SU et al. Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Lancet. August 2021.
  6. Omega-3 Supplements: What You Need to Know. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. November 2024.
  7. Omega-3 Fatty Acids. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. July 18, 2022.
  8. Huh JH et al. Omega-3 fatty acids and atrial fibrillation. Korean Journal of Internal Medicine. December 2022.
  9. Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. February 21, 2024.
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Beth Biggee, MD

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Beth Biggee, MD, is medical director and an integrative rheumatologist at Rheumission, a virtual integrative rheumatology practice for people residing in California and Pennsylvania. This first-of-its-kind company offers whole person autoimmune care by a team of integrative rheumatologists, lifestyle medicine practitioners, autoimmune dietitians, psychologists, and care coordinators.

Dr. Biggee also works as a healthcare wellness consultant for Synergy Wellness Center in Hudson, Massachusetts. Teamed with Synergy, she provides in-person lifestyle medicine and holistic consults, and contributes to employee workplace wellness programs. She has over 20 years of experience in rheumatology and holds board certifications in rheumatology and integrative and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Biggee brings a human-centered approach to wellness rather than focusing solely on diseases.

Dr. Biggee graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree from Canisius College, and graduated magna cum laude and as valedictorian from SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse Medical School. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital, completed her fellowship in rheumatology at Tufts–New England Medical Center, and completed training in integrative rheumatology at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Following her training, she attained board certification in rheumatology and internal medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine, attained board certification in integrative medicine through the American Board of Physician Specialties, and attained accreditation as a certified lifestyle medicine physician through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She is certified in Helms auricular acupuncture and is currently completing coursework for the Aloha Ayurveda integrative medicine course for physicians.

In prior roles, Dr. Biggee taught as an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital (an affiliate of Columbia University). She was also clinical associate of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and instructed "introduction to clinical medicine" for medical students at Tufts. She was preceptor for the Lawrence General Hospital Family Medicine Residency.

Dr. Biggee has published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, Arthritis in Rheumatism, Current Opinions in Rheumatology, Journal for Musculoskeletal Medicine, Medicine and Health Rhode Island, and Field Guide to Internal Medicine.

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Lauren Bedosky

Author
Lauren Bedosky is an experienced health and fitness writer. She regularly contributes to top websites and publications like Men's Health, Women's Health, MyFitnessPal, SilverSneakers, Runner's World, Experience Life, Prevention, AARP, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Livestrong, Fitness, Shape, Family Circle, Healthline, Self, Redbook, and Women's Running.

When she's not writing about health and fitness — her favorite topics being anything related to running and strength training — she's reading up on the latest and greatest news in the field and working on her own health goals.
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