He found that fish oil medications did not decrease the risk of cardiac events

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.November 16, 2020

The fish oil-based drug known as omega-3 carboxylic acids or omega-3 CAs did not decrease the risk of cardiac events compared to a placebo, according to recent research presented today at the American Heart Association’s 2020 scientific sessions. The meeting will be held from Friday 13 November to Tuesday 17 November 2020 and is an important global exchange of the latest scientific advances, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science for healthcare worldwide. .

Fish oil supplements containing the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are commonly taken to prevent or reduce complications of heart disease.

A 2017 American Heart Association Science Advisory noted that omega-3 fish oil supplements prescribed by a health care practitioner can help prevent death from heart disease in patients who have recently had a heart attack and can prevent death and hospitalizations. in patients with heart failure. However, there is a lack of scientific research to support the clinical use of these supplements to prevent heart disease in the general population.

Many people continue to take fish oil supplements to prevent heart disease. However, the fish oil drug we tested in the STRENGTH study was not effective for this purpose. We believe the questions surrounding fish oil benefit versus risk will remain unanswered unless another study using a neutral placebo such as corn oil can conclusively show cardiovascular benefits for a drug a base of omega-3 fatty acids “.

A. Michael Lincoff, MD, lead author, vice president for research of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and interventional cardiologist in the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at the Cleveland Clinic

This international phase III study evaluated omega-3 CA in 13,078 adults in 675 centers in 22 countries. The patients were all being treated with statins to lower cholesterol and had blockages in the arteries of the heart, brain or legs or were at increased risk of heart disease due to other medical conditions such as diabetes or risk factors related to lifestyle. life like smoking.

Participants were randomly assigned to receive 4 grams of the omega-3 CA drug or placebo with corn oil daily. Researchers compared the rate of cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke, need for coronary revascularization (stent or bypass surgery) or hospitalization for unstable angina for all patient groups.

The study started in 2014 and was stopped slightly earlier, in January 2020, because the preliminary results of the study found it unlikely to prove the benefit of the omega-3 drug CA. Over a median follow-up time of approximately three years, 1,580 patients experienced at least one cardiac event. There were no significant differences in the number of patients who experienced cardiac events between the two treatment groups. Additionally, a potentially dangerous abnormal heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation) occurred more frequently among patients taking the omega-3 CA drug than those receiving control corn oil.