Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular risk-related metabolic markers in diverse populations: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

AIM: Many studies reported the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) towards cardiovascular risk, but results are inconclusive. This meta-analysis systemically explored PUFA-mediated effects on representative cardiovascular-related metabolic markers, including glycolipid profile, adiponectin, and oxidative stress indicators in different people.

DATA SYNTHESIS: Literature search on PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were performed up to October 11, 2024. Randomized controlled trials focusing on the effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation on triacylglycerol (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), apolipoprotein, adipokine, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), c-reactive protein (CRP), and oxidative stress biomarkers were chosen as outcome variables. There were 24 studies with 2043 subjects showed significant effects: (1)TG decreased by 16.95 mg/dl (21 trials, n = 1491; 95 % CI: 23.25, -10.66), (2)HDL increased by 1.55 mg/dl (22 trials, n = 1914; 95 % CI: 0.69, 2.42), (3)adiponectin increased by 0.96 μg/ml (3 trials, n = 198; 95 % CI: 0.03, 1.8), (4)HbA1c decreased by 0.17 % (3 trials, n = 283; 95 % CI: 0.29, -0.04), (5)LDL decreased by 10.98 mg/dl in women (4 trials, n = 236; 95 % CI: 19.41, -2.5) and by 13.77 mg/dl in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (3 trials, n = 180; 95 % CI: 22.83, -4.7), (6)TC decreased by 15.58 mg/dl in women (4 trials, n = 236; 95 % CI: 24.64, -6.53).

CONCLUSIONS

The meta-analysis indicates that n-3 PUFAs improve cardiovascular-related metabolic markers, potentially benefit cardiovascular health in patients with cardiovascular disease, PCOS, and kidney disease, especially in older women via reducing TG and HbA1c and increasing HDL and adiponectin.