The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Krill Oil in Gout

Aim: The aim of the study was to measure the change in sub clinical inflammation (assessed by power doppler signal on ultrasound and high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) in patients with gout, over a12 weeks period, using a randomised, single blind study, comparing krill oil with colchicine Methods: 21 patients were identified with a diagnosis of gout (according to the 2015 EULAR/ACR criteria) and evidence of inammation(as dened by a high sensitivity CRP > 5 or power doppler signal on ultra-sound in any of the examined joints). Patients were randomised to receive either 2 g of krill oil per day or 500mcg of colchicine, in addition to urate lowering therapy in accordance with 2012 ACR guidelines for the management of gout. Patients were observed over a 12 week period. At baseline, week 0, 6 and12, phlebotomy was performed (to measure hsCRP) and a joint ultrasound was undertaken (to assess for synovitis, tophi, erosions and aggregates).Patient questionnaire’s and physician assessments were also carried out at each time point. Result: Preliminary analysis suggests that there was only minimal change in the levels of subclinical inammation over the 12 week period in both arms of the study. There was no statistically signicant difference between the patients treated with krill oil, as compared to colchicine in achieving the primary outcomes. Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest neither krill oil nor colchicine were effective in reducing levels of subclinical inammation in patients with gout, as measured by hs CPR and ultrasound