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Omega-3 fatty acids have little or no cardiovascular protection: An interventional study

Ramaiyan Velmurugan, DS. Harshini Yaamika

Article ID: 2116
Vol 3, Issue 2, 2022

VIEWS - 96 (Abstract)

Abstract

Background: There is a great deal of public belief in the cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 fats. Recent trials on the effects of omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular issues are unclear or have failed to demonstrate significant benefits in reducing cardiovascular events. The current study aims to perform a human trial using omega-3 fatty acids as a supplementation to test its effectiveness on cardiovascular diseases. Methods: A randomized interventional study was carried out in 145 patients in the age group of 18 or older at any risk of cardiovascular disease. A treatment period of 6 months with supplementation of daily dose of 360 mg of EPA and 480 mg of DHA for one group and to the other group, atorvastatin 10 mg were given. Biochemical and clinical evaluations were performed for the baseline, 3rd and the 6th months to assess the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular diseases. Results: The changes in the biochemical parameters total cholesterol, High density lipoprotein (HDL), Low density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides among the omega-3 fatty acid group and statin group were as 218.17 vs 204.45, 55.24 vs 60.3, 142.9 vs 132.41and 168.95 vs 152.5, respectively with a p value of 0.0001. Omega-3 supplements were shown to have little to no effect on the risk of cardiovascular diseases according to the research. Conclusion: The better evidence identified in this research does not demonstrate any cardiovascular protection with the supplementation of omega-3 fats.

Keywords

omega-3; fatty acids; cardiovascular disease; statin; eicosapentaenoic acid; docosahexaenoic acid

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54517/ccr.v3i2.2116
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