Omega 3 fatty
acids, EPA and DHA
Both EPA and DHA
are the primary essential fatty
acids found in fish oils. Because SLE
it is an inflammatory disorder, fish
oils have been studied for the
treatment of this condition. Fish oils can
effectively reduce the amount of
pro-inflammatory molecules created
by the body and provide an increase
in the
amount of anti-inflammatory
molecules circulating throughout
the body. Fish oil may also cause a
reduction in platelet aggregation,
which is a complication of severe
SLE.
In a recent study
on the effects of fish oil on
disease severity and relapse, patients who supplemented their
diet with EPA and DHA had positive
results. Patients reported a mild
effect on active inflammation and
a possibility of preventing
the relapse of this condition. The study concluded that
fish oils may decrease the auto
reactivity of white blood cells. Overall,
individual survival rates were
increased and the severity of
disease was decreased. [11]
Another study found
that fish oils actually induced clinical remission
of the disease via modulation of oxidative stress
in the body of patients with
SLE .[12]
In other studies concerning high dose fish oils, 100% of the participants reported
and improvement in symptoms, with
some even feeling treatment
yielded ‘ideal' results. [13]
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is
indicated in patients with lupus
due to its high anti-oxidant
potential. It is also a
critical nutrient
in skin health, which is an organ largely
affected by lupus. Vitamin
E is deficient in patients with
SLE. [14] Furthermore, conventional
treatments with NSAIDs and
corticosteroids cause an increase
in oxidative stress upon the body.
One study measured the effect of
Vitamin E supplementation on
oxidative stress markers in the
blood of patients with SLE. Prior
to treatment the patients had high
levels of oxidative stress markers
and low levels of anti-oxidants in
the blood. Supplementation of
vitamin E was shown to effectively reduce oxidative stressors, and increased
anti-oxidant enzymes in the
blood. [15]
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a
recommended therapy for patients
who suffer from SLE. Vitamin D
has an immunoregulatory role via
white blood cell activity and cell
signaling. Vitamin D levels in
patients with SLE have been shown
to be low. This
characteristic may be due to
treatments with pharmaceutical
drugs, or the decreased sun exposure,
which may result in a low conversion to
the vitamin's active form. [16,
17] Vitamin D supplementation is
recommended for individuals with
lupus who are taking
corticosteroids, because of the
risk of developing osteoporosis.[ 18]
DHEA
DHEA is a steroid
hormone precursor naturally made
in the adrenal glands. It is used
as a treatment for lupus,
do to its ability to modify and
regulate hormone
levels in the blood. SLE is
thought to be affected by
fluctuating estrogen and androgen
levels. By decreasing inflammatory
cell signaling molecules in the
blood, DHEA may also provide for
certain immunomodulatory effects.
In a study of
patients with active SLE,
supplementation with DHEA resulted
in a significant improvement in
symptoms. 16% of patients reported
a decrease in flare-ups of the
disease. Participants also
benefited psychologically,
reporting an
improvement in their own feelings
about the disease. [19] In another
comparative study, DHEA
supplementation, again, resulted in an
overall improvement in symptoms. 7
out of 9 patients responded to
treatment, as compared to only 50% in
the placebo group. There was also
a measured protective effect
on the bone (increased bone
mineral density), resulting in a
decreased risk of osteopenia and
osteoporosis due to corticosteroid
use in patients with severe SLE. [20]
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a
potent anti-oxidant. It is a
nutrient utilized by the body to
maintain the health of skin and joints.
Vitamin A also has immune stimulating
properties. Vitamin A is often
deficient in patients suffering
from
SLE. [21] A
recent study measured the immune
response in patients with lupus
after administering high doses of Vitamin A. It
was concluded that Vitamin A
increases both antibody activity
and anti-inflammatory cell
signaling molecules.
Supplementation resulted in a
positive outcome. [10]
