Work

Effect of omega‐3 fatty acids on cardiovascular disease risk: A systematic review and meta‐analysis with meta‐regression

Year: 2025

Type: review

Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis

Abstract: Objective We aimed to determine if omega‐3 fatty acid (FA) supplementation significantly reduces cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with established CV disease or at high CV risk. Methods We conducted a comprehensive literature search on PubMed, Embase and Cochrane CENTRAL. The results of our analyses were presented as risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and pooled using a random effects model. Meta‐regression bubble plots were generated to visualise the results of the analysis, while the detailed results were tabulated. A p ‐value less than‐.05 was considered significant in all cases. Results A total of 42 studies (176 253 participants) were included in our analysis. The pooled analysis demonstrates that omega‐3 FA are associated with a significant reduction in CV mortality ( p =‐.02), CV disease ( p =‐.03), coronary heart disease (CHD) ( p =‐.007), myocardial infarction (MI) ( p =‐.008), fatal MI ( p =‐.0004) and revascularisation ( p =‐.003), and a significant increase in atrial fibrillation ( p =‐.01), and gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events ( p =‐.02). Subgroup analysis demonstrated a significant improvement with EPA monotherapy compared to EPA+DHA combination therapy in the risk of CV mortality ( p = 0.01), CVD events ( p <‐.00001), MACE ( p < .00001), CHD ( p < .00001), MI ( p <‐.00001), fatal MI ( p =‐.004) and revascularisation ( p <‐.0001). EPA monotherapy was associated with a significant increase in the risk of atrial fibrillation ( p =‐.01). Regression analysis demonstrates a dose–response relationship between omega‐3 FA (EPA or EPA+DHA) and CVD events ( p =‐.001), CHD ( p =‐.035), revascularisation ( p =‐.035) and ischemic stroke ( p =‐.003). Conclusion Our study demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of cardiovascular outcomes with omega‐3 FA administration.

Source: Clinical and Translational Discovery

DOI: 10.1002/ctd2.70094