OMEGA 3

Associations of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplement Use With Cardiovascular Disease RisksMeta-analysis of 10 Trials Involving 77 917 Individuals

Theingi Aung, MBBS, FRCP^1,2,3; Jim Halsey, BSc^1,2; Daan Kromhout, PhD⁴; et alHertzel C. Gerstein, MD^5,6; Roberto Marchioli, MD^7,8; Luigi Tavazzi, MD⁹; Johanna M. Geleijnse, PhD¹⁰; Bernhard Rauch, MD¹¹; Andrew Ness, PhD, FFPH¹²; Pilar Galan, MD, PhD¹³; Emily Y. Chew, MD¹⁴; Jackie Bosch, PhD^6,15; Rory Collins, FMedSci, FRCP^1,2; Sarah Lewington, DPhil^1,2; Jane Armitage, FRCP, FFPH^1,2; Robert Clarke, MD, FRCP, FFPH^1,2; for the Omega-3 Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration

Author Affiliations Article Information

JAMA Cardiol. 2018;3(3):225-234. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2017.5205

Key Points

Question  Does supplementation with marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids have any associations with reductions in fatal or nonfatal coronary heart disease in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease?

Findings  This meta-analysis of 10 trials involving 77 917 participants demonstrated that supplementation with marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids for a mean of 4.4 years had no significant association with reductions in fatal or nonfatal coronary heart disease or any major vascular events.

Meaning  The results provide no support for current recommendations to use omega-3 fatty acid supplements for the prevention of fatal coronary heart disease or any cardiovascular disease in people who have or at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease.