Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Cardiovascular Disease

This evidence report is 1 of 3 reports prepared concerning the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular diseases. These reports are among several that address topics related to omega-3 fatty acids, and that were requested by the Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health, through the EPC Program at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The aim of the reports is to summarize the current evidence on the health effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the following: CVD, cancer, child and maternal health, eye health, gastrointestinal/renal diseases, asthma, autoimmune diseases, immune- mediated diseases, transplantation, mental health, and neurological diseases and conditions. In addition to informing the research community and the public on the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on various health conditions, it is anticipated that the findings of the reports will also be used to help define the agenda for future research. The focus of this report is on CVD outcomes in humans. The other 2 reports focus on risk factors of cardiovascular disease and on arrhythmic electrophysiology in animal and in- vitro studies. In this chapter, the metabolism, physiological functions, and the sources of omega-3 fatty acids are briefly discussed. Subsequent chapters describe the methods used to identify and review studies related to omega-3 fatty acids and CVD - including the analytic framework for this report, findings related to the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular conditions, and recommendations for future research in this area.