title: Recent findings on the health effects of omega-3 fatty acids and statins, and their interactions: do statins inhibit omega-3?
abstract: Early randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrated the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3), whereas recent RCTs were negative. We now address the issue, focusing on the temporal changes having occurred: most patients in recent RCTs are no longer n-3 deficient and the vast majority are now treated with statins. Recent RCTs testing n-3 against arrhythmias suggest that n-3 reduce the risk only in patients not taking a statin. Other recent RCTs in secondary prevention were negative although, in a post-hoc analysis separating statin users and non-users, non-significant protection of n-3 was observed among statin non-users whereas statin users had no effect. Recent RCTs testing statins - after the implementation of the New Clinical Trial Regulation in 2007 - are negative (or flawed) suggesting that the lack of effect of n-3 cannot be attributed to a parallel protection by statins. Finally, statins favor the metabolism of omega-6 fatty acids (n-6), which in turn inhibits n-3 and, contrary to n-3, they increase insulin resistance and the risk of diabetes. Thus, n-3 and statins are counteractive at several levels and statins appear to inhibit n-3.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Coeur et Nutrition, TIMC-IMAG CNRS 5525, Université Joseph Fourier, Faculté de Médecine de Grenoble, 38054 La Tronche, France. michel.delorgeril@ujf-grenoble.fr
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Lorgeril
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salen
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Defaye
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabaeus
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004336:Drug Antagonism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors