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Tamma SM, Shorter B, Toh KL, Moldwin R, Gordon B. Influence of polyunsaturated fatty acids on urologic inflammation. Int Urol Nephrol. 2015 Sep 28. [Epub ahead of print]

This comprehensive review article summarizes the available data on the how consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) might improve a variety of debilitating urologic conditions. The authors conclude that PUFAs might possibly be used as a complementary treatment alongside traditional treatment options, although data proving this are still lacking in many cases. In particular, omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in many foods including oily fish such as tuna, salmon, and herring, might theoretically play a role in reducing inflammation associated with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). That’s because IC/BPS is characterized by an inflammatory process, and studies to date on omega-3 fatty acids suggest that they can play a role in suppressing urologic inflammation. However, no current studies have actually documented that consuming omega-3 fatty acids is an effective treatment option for IC/BPS. Likewise, there is a strong scientific rationale for why PUFAs might help patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), but there are no treatment studies yet to support this theory.