Omega 3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease risk factors: An updated systematic review of randomised clinical trials

• Published in: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 72 - 77
• Main Authors: Rangel-Huerta, Oscar D., Gil, Angel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2018
• Subjects: blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease risk factors; cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - diet therapy; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Dietary Supplements; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Humans; inflammation; Omega-3; omega-3 fatty acids; oxidative stress; patients; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Systematic review; Systematic review; Omega-3; Cardiovascular disease risk factors
• ISSN: 0261-5614; 1532-1983; 1532-1983
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2017.05.015

Several studies and reviews regarding the supplementation of omega-3 LC-PUFAs have been developed during the last years. Indeed, the evidence states that high doses omega-3 LC-PUFAs produce a small but significant decrease in blood pressure in older and hypertensive subjects. Due to the increasing interest in the benefits of LC-PUFAs, we aimed to evaluate the scientific evidence provided in the past five years (2012–2016) on the effects of the intake of omega-3 LC-PUFAs on cardiovascular risk factors such as inflammation and oxidative stress, through a systematic review in PubMed database. Twenty-eight articles were related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and are included in this systematic review. The studies included healthy subjects and CVD patients; we included the number of subjects, type of study, type and doses of omega-3 LC-PUFAs, primary outcomes, and results. The use of omega-3 LC-PUFAs for ameliorating CVD risk factors can be recommended. However, the administration of omega-3 does not seem to show any benefit for the management of CVD or associated complications.