ReviewEffects of omega-3 fatty acids on serum markers of cardiovascular disease risk: A systematic review
Section snippets
Background
The relationship between dietary omega-3 fatty acids and risk of developing CVD began to emerge in the late 1970s [1], [2], [3]. Thereafter, a limited number of intervention trials reported lower rates of CVD mortality and sudden death, but not stroke, after supplementation with the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA or DHA; however, the data on the shorter-chain omega-3 fatty acid ALA are far less certain [4]. Potential mechanisms for the cardioprotective effect of omega-3 fatty acids include
Literature search and eligibility criteria
Details of the systematic review and statistical methods have been reported [11]. Briefly, we conducted a systematic review of the English-language literature on omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Biological Abstracts, and Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau databases through April 2003. Search terms included the specific omega-3 fatty acids, fish and other marine oils, and omega-3 fatty acid-rich plant oils. We also
Results
The literature search for all studies of omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease related conditions yielded 7464 citations. We retrieved and reviewed 807 articles to analyze cardiovascular events, risk factors or intermediate markers. Of these we analyzed 123 articles that reported about 23 different cardiovascular disease risk factors and intermediate markers. Here, we discuss the 52 randomized controlled trials that reported data on the effect of omega-3 fatty acid consumption on the
Discussion
Although the relationship between dietary fish and fish oil and CVD risk has been known for some time, the relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and surrogate circulating markers of CVD risk has been less clear. This area is of interest in light of our previous observations that in randomized studies, compared to placebo, the summary risk ratio of coronary artery restenosis was in favor of fish oil is (0.87 [95% CI 0.73, 1.05]) [11]. However, the data from prospective and cross-sectional
Acknowledgements
This evidence report was prepared by the Tufts-New England Medical Center Evidence-based Practice Center under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (contract no. 290-02-0023), Rockville, MD. Funding was provided by the Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health.
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