TY - JOUR
T1 - The fish-oil paradox
AU - Nicholls, Stephen J.
AU - Nelson, Adam J.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Increasing interest has focused on the potential cardioprotective effects of the omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the basis of findings from epidemiology and cohort studies. This review will summarize the findings of contemporary clinical trials of omega-3 fatty acids. RECENT FINDINGS: Although a large clinical trial performed prior to the widespread use of statins demonstrated cardiovascular benefit with fish oils, subsequent studies have failed to reproduce this result. More recent studies have demonstrated a reduction in cardiovascular risk with administration of high-dose EPA, but not a carboxylic acid formulation containing both EPA and DHA or with lower doses of omega-3 fatty acids. SUMMARY: Administration of omega-3 fatty acids differing in either composition or dose produce variable effects on cardiovascular outcomes. This has implications for both the public health and pharmacological approach to cardiovascular prevention.
AB - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Increasing interest has focused on the potential cardioprotective effects of the omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the basis of findings from epidemiology and cohort studies. This review will summarize the findings of contemporary clinical trials of omega-3 fatty acids. RECENT FINDINGS: Although a large clinical trial performed prior to the widespread use of statins demonstrated cardiovascular benefit with fish oils, subsequent studies have failed to reproduce this result. More recent studies have demonstrated a reduction in cardiovascular risk with administration of high-dose EPA, but not a carboxylic acid formulation containing both EPA and DHA or with lower doses of omega-3 fatty acids. SUMMARY: Administration of omega-3 fatty acids differing in either composition or dose produce variable effects on cardiovascular outcomes. This has implications for both the public health and pharmacological approach to cardiovascular prevention.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85095800064&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/MOL.0000000000000712
DO - 10.1097/MOL.0000000000000712
M3 - Review Article
C2 - 33027227
AN - SCOPUS:85095800064
VL - 31
SP - 356
EP - 361
JO - Current Opinion in Lipidology
JF - Current Opinion in Lipidology
SN - 0957-9672
IS - 6
ER -