Whereas our meta-analysis found significant positive impacts on CVD outcomes,1,2 the paper by O’Keefe and colleagues3 reports reductions in deaths from CVD, cancer, and other causes; these findings support the benefits of omega-3 despite a potential increased risk of AF, notwithstanding the absence of an increased ischemic stroke risk. The recent Mayo Clinic Proceedings study provided additional evidence on the implementation of omega-3 fatty acids in a healthy diet in the prevention of CVD and other disease outcomes; thus, the inclusion of DHA (and combined EPA and DHA) in disease prevention strategies can definitely still be recommended. The recent UK Biobank study strengthens the concept that DHA, a marine-sourced omega-3 consumed along with EPA, mostly from fatty fish or omega-3 supplements, is beneficial for overall general and cardiovascular health.
There is increasing evidence that higher doses of omega-3 are safe and may reduce adverse CVD events in patients with high risk of CVD as well as potentially non-CVD, including cancer mortality.reports reductions in deaths from CVD, cancer, and other causes; these findings support the benefits of omega-3 despite a potential increased risk of AF, notwithstanding the absence of an increased ischemic stroke risk. The recent
Mayo Clinic Proceedings study provided additional evidence on the implementation of omega-3 fatty acids in a healthy diet in the prevention of CVD and other disease outcomes; thus, the inclusion of DHA (and combined EPA and DHA) in disease prevention strategies can definitely still be recommended. The recent UK Biobank study strengthens the concept that DHA, a marine-sourced omega-3 consumed along with EPA, mostly from fatty fish or omega-3 supplements, is beneficial for overall general and cardiovascular health. There is increasing evidence that higher doses of omega-3 are safe and may reduce adverse CVD events in patients with high risk of CVD as well as potentially non-CVD, including cancer mortality.Whereas our metaanalysis found significant positive impacts on CVD outcomes,1,2the paper by O’Keefe and colleagues3
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Significant concerns have recently been raised about the effects of omega-3 fatty acids to increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), but little or no increase has been seen with lower doses (≤1 g/d).9,10 Whereas the presence of a dose-effect relationship indicates the effect is real, there is considerable uncertainty about its magnitude. Of 91 interventional trials with CVD outcomes with length of more than 1 year identified in the literature search of Abdelhamid et al,4 Bae et al11 found just 8 studies that included AF as an outcome. It is possible that studies with a small or null observed effect may have been omitted from the meta-analysis because of a selective reporting bias that would tend to exaggerate the magnitude of the risk. In addition, Samuel and Nattel12 observed the presence of an informative censoring bias because EPA and DHA reduce the risk of multiple CVD and mortality risks: patients in the treated groups of EPA/DHA trials would thus have more time and opportunity to develop AF than controls. One of the greatest concerns among patients with AF is the increased risk of stroke. Although the study of O’Keefe et al3 does not address the risk of stroke, the same group13 has recently found that higher omega-3 levels are associated with a lower risk of total and ischemic stroke.
Bringing the Potential Benefits of Omega-3 to a Higher Level
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/…/S0025-6196…/fulltext
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov