Do Omega-3 Fatty Acids Benefit Health?

An important clinical trial of omega-3 fatty acids in patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease is published in JAMA. In the STRENGTH trial (the Long-Term Outcomes Study to Assess Statin Residual Risk with Epanova in High Cardiovascular Risk Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia), 13  078 patients were randomized to receive 4 g/d of a carboxylic acid formulation of omega-3 fatty acids (a combination of eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) or corn oil as a comparator. After a median follow-up of 42 months, there was no significant difference between the o mega-3 fatty acid group (6539 patients) and the corn oil group (6539 patients) in the primary end point, a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, coronary revascularization, and hospitalization for unstable angina. This end point was observed in 12% of th e omega-3 patients vs 12.2% of the corn oil patients (hazard ratio, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.90-1.09]; P = .84).
Source: JAMA - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research