Researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital included in their meta-analysis three recently completed large-scale trials (VITAL, REDUCE-IT, and ASCEND), increasing the sample size by 64% over previous meta-analyses. The total population analyzed included more than 120,000 adults.
The researchers found that those who took daily omega-3 fish oil supplements lowered their risk for most CVD outcomes except stroke, including an 8% reduced risk for heart attack and coronary heart disease death. The findings also suggested that dosage above the 840mg/day used in most clinical trials may provide greater reduction in risk.
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A press release on the topic noted that several million people experience CVD events worldwide each year, and even a small reduction in risk can translate into hundreds of thousands of CVD deaths avoided."Although public health recommendations should focus on increasing fish consumption, having an overall heart-healthy diet, being physically active, and having other healthy lifestyle practices, this study suggests that omega-3 supplementation may have a role in appropriate patients," said senior author JoAnn Manson, chief of the Division of Preve.
Harry B. Rice, Ph.D., VP of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs at GOED, toldWholeFoods: “The current results, from well-respected scientists, corroborate past research demonstrating omega-3s' benefits for a range of cardiovascular outcomes. It's particularly noteworthy that the results conflict with the findings from last year's Cochrane Review that was used as the basis to discontinue discussions on adopting a Codex Nutrient Reference Value for EPA+DHA.”
