ω-3 Fatty Acid Supplements — No Benefit for Secondary Prevention of Heart Disease

Lack of benefit in recent studies could reflect greater use of other preventive strategies.

Two ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids — eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) — have anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, and antithrombotic properties that make them attractive for prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In open-label trials, ω-3 fatty acids have been shown to have significant benefit in secondary prevention of CVD, but controlled trials have produced conflicting results.

South Korean researchers identified 1007 trials from 1976 to 2011 that involved ω-3 fatty acids and CVD prevention; for their meta-analysis, they chose 14 randomized, controlled trials that involved 20,000 patients with known CVD (mean age, about 63; 79% men). Dosages of EPA or DHA ranged from 0.4 g to 4.8 g daily, and several oils (e…

Reviewing Author

Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

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Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

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Editorial BoardsUpToDate

ω-3 Fatty Acid Supplements — No Benefit for Secondary Prevention of Heart Disease

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