Authors

  1. Rosenberg, Karen

Abstract

According to this study:

 

* Supplementation with marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids isn't associated with reductions in risk of fatal or nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD) or any major vascular events.

 

* The findings don't support the American Heart Association's current recommendations for use of omega-3 fatty acid supplements by people with a history of CHD.

 

 

Article Content

The American Heart Association recommends the use of omega-3 fatty acid supplements to prevent coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with a history of the condition and in those who have heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. Major trials, however, have reported conflicting results regarding the association between the use of omega-3 fatty acids and the reduction in risk of CHD and other types of cardiovascular disease (CVD). To assess these findings, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of all large randomized clinical trials of omega-3 fatty acid supplements for the prevention of CVD.

 

Included in the analysis were randomized clinical trials of marine-derived very-long-chain omega-3 fatty acids with at least 500 participants and a scheduled treatment duration of at least one year. Data were obtained from 10 trials involving nearly 78,000 participants; the mean duration of treatment was 4.4 years.

 

According to the meta-analysis, supplementation with marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids didn't have a significant association with any CHD event or subgroup of CHD events, including CHD death and nonfatal myocardial infarction. Similarly, no association was found between the use of omega-3 fatty acid supplements and major vascular events, stroke, or revascularization events in the full study population or in any of the subgroups, including those in which patients had a history of CHD, diabetes, or statin use.

 

REFERENCE

 

Aung T, et al. JAMA Cardiol 2018 Jan 31 [Epub ahead of print].