Fish Oil for Crohn's?

[Amberly]

Hey everyone,

So I've heard that Fish Oil is a natural anti-inflammatory and that it can help with Crohn's. Do any of you use this, or have you ever? I have some of the pills, but I wanted to hear if it helps or not before I start taking them. I'm still waiting to hear back from my doctor, and I'll ask her when she calls, but until then, I'd like to know personal stories as that always seems to give me more insight.

I hope you all are well!

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

I take it. I don't know about it being useful for Crohn's. But, my Husband and I saw a show that said that it's good for your brain...

 

[kiny]

I take it. I can not tell you if it helps or how much, there are studies out there if you want to find them. Sorry I'm not more of help.

 

[D Bergy]

Do a search on Fish Oil on the forum. There has been a lot of discussion on the subject.

Dan

 

[CrohnsChicago]

I take 4000mg fish oil/day currently.

I went to a lecture on crohn's disease recently by some top doctors and they spoke of fish oil as a complimentary treatment option. Fish oil switches the immune response to a low inflammatory rate...it tends to be more helpful to those already in some form of remission as opposed to someone mid-flare.

There are studies of fish oil for IBD that suggest it helps with maintaining remission. However there is not enough evidence to lead researchers to sway one way or another on the topic.

However since there are significant numbers of ppl with crohn's that benefit from fish oil as a complimentary treatment, many docs that treat the disease do not rule it out as helpful to the patients if the patients want to use it as a supplement. My GI definitely did not reject my decision to use fish oil when I discussed it with him.

If you are going to use fish oil supplements, make sure you purchase "enteric" coated pills (it will say on the bottle if it is enteric coated). Normal fish oil pills will probably be released when they hit the acid in your stomach. Not much help. Enteric coated pills have an extra layer that prevents the pill from opening until it reaches your intestines. Much more beneficial for crohns patients.

I would also reasearch information on Omega3s and Omega6s here on the crohns forum, it will help you to decide which brand of fish oil you feel would be safe for you and would like to try.

 

[Amberly]

Thank you for all the information everyone. I appreciate it.