Fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease: do they really work?

Daan Kromhout, Satoshi Yasuda, Johanna M Geleijnse, Hiroaki Shimokawa

Index: Eur. Heart J. 33(4) , 436-43, (2011)

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Abstract

Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found abundantly in fish oil, exert pleiotropic cardiometabolic effects with a diverse range of actions. The results of previous studies raised a lot of interest in the role of fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The present review will focus on the current clinical uses of omega-3 fatty acids and provide an update on their effects. Since recently published trials in patients with coronary artery diseases or post-myocardial infarction did not show an effect of omega-3 fatty acids on major cardiovascular endpoints, this review will examine the limitations of those data and suggest recommendations for the use of omega-3 fatty acids.