In a new review study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, researchers found that omega-3 fatty acids can improve heart health.
For decades, there has been great interest in whether omega-3 fatty acids can lower rates of cardiovascular events.
In 2018, a study showed that a high dose of a purified ethyl ester of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in patients at elevated cardiac risk strongly reduced heart disease events.
Results from the trial led to the US. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, and European Medicines Agency approval of the prescription drug icosapent ethyl for reducing heart risk in patients with elevated triglycerides, as well as updates to worldwide guidelines.
But many studies of omega-3 fatty acid supplements that combine EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have had mixed results.
In the study, the team did a systematic review and meta-analysis of 38 studies of omega-3 fatty acids, including trials of EPA therapy and EPA+DHA therapy. In total, these trials included more than 149,000 participants.
Overall, omega-3 fatty acids reduced heart disease mortality and improved heart health.
Importantly, they found a much greater reduction in heart disease risk in studies of EPA alone rather than EPA+DHA supplements. The findings support a robust and consistent benefit of EPA.
The researchers note that there are crucial biological differences between EPA and DHA—while both are considered omega-3 fatty acids, they have different chemical properties that influence their stability and strength of the effect that they can have on cholesterol molecules and cell membranes.
No trials to date have studied the effects of DHA alone on cardiovascular outcomes.
This study provides reassurance about the role of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically prescription EPA. It should encourage researchers to explore further the cardiovascular effects of EPA across different clinical settings.
If you care about heart health and omega-3, please read studies about people with a high omega-3 level less likely to die early and findings of omega-3 info that may surprise you.
For more information about heart health and nutrition, please see recent studies about food high in omega-3 fats can improve recovery after heart attack and results showing that why omega-3 fats could protect you from chronic inflammation.
The study is published in eClinical Medicine. One author of the study is Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH.
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