Micronutrients & recovery
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3 n-3) is significantly associated with improved prognosis in post-MI patients, whereas long-chain n-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) showed only a non-significant trend.
Focus on plant-based sources of omega-3s, such as flaxseed oil and vegetable margarine, which were significantly linked to better outcomes in this study. While fish oil is often recommended, this specific trial did not find a significant benefit for long-chain omega-3s, possibly due to the small number of fatal events.
When the plasma fatty acid concentrations were entered into the model, 18:3(n-3) was the only fatty acid significantly associated with CO 1 (risk ratio, 0.20; 95% CIs, 0.05 to 0.84 after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, total cholesterol, blood pressure, leukocyte count, and aspirin use).
Why this rating
Statistically significant for the primary outcome, but the sample size for fatty acid analysis was limited.
Source
Mediterranean Diet, Traditional Risk Factors, and the Rate of Cardiovascular Complications After Myocardial Infarction
Michel de Lorgeril et al. · Circulation · 1999
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