The following are key points to remember from this American Heart Association Science Advisory on omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation and the prevention of cardiovascular disease:

1. Among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), treatment with PUFA supplementation to reduce CHD-related mortality (in particular ischemic-mediated sudden cardiac death) is reasonable.
2. For patients with heart failure with reduced left ventricular function, a large randomized controlled trial (RCT) observed benefit (reduced hospitalization and improved survival) with omega-3 PUFA supplementation.
3. For diabetic and prediabetic patients, there is no significant evidence to support omega-3 PUFA supplementation for the prevention of CHD. However, an ongoing RCT will address primary prevention with omega-3 supplementation in diabetic patients.
4. Among patients with a history of stroke, there are no published RCTs to support omega-3 supplementation. There is also no proven benefit for primary prevention of stroke.
5. There is no evidence to support the use of omega-3 PUFA supplementation for primary prevention of atrial fibrillation. Data from multiple RCTs do not support the use of omega-3 supplementation to prevent recurrent atrial fibrillation.

Keywords: Atrial Fibrillation, Cardiovascular Diseases, Coronary Artery Disease, Death, Sudden, Cardiac, Diabetes Mellitus, Fish Oils, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Heart Failure, Ischemia, Primary Prevention, Secondary Prevention, Stroke, Ventricular Function, Left

< Back to Listings