title: Update on cardiometabolic health effects of ω-3 fatty acids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The fish fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may promote cardiometabolic health. This review summarizes the results of recent meta-analyses of prospective studies on cardiovascular diseases, diabetes type 2 and markers of atherosclerosis and thrombosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of recently published meta-analyses of prospective cohort studies showed that eating fish once a week was associated with a 16% lower risk of fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) and a 14% lower risk of stroke incidence, but was not related to heart failure. Fish consumption may be associated with a higher risk of diabetes in Western countries and a lower risk in Asian countries. Recent meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials showed that EPA-DHA supplementation reduced the risk of fatal CHD and sudden death by 10% of which the latter was not significant. Extra EPA-DHA did not reduce the risk of heart failure, stroke and cardiac arrhythmias. ω-3 fatty acid (FA) supplementation did reduce markers of ventricular fibrillation, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction and platelet aggregation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is strong evidence for a protective effect of ω-3 FA on fatal CHD and for some markers of atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Consistent results were not obtained for other vascular diseases and diabetes. ω-3 FA reduced markers of ventricular fibrillation but did not reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Daan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kromhout
authors.forename: Janette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Goede
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006262:Health; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3