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