Research
Mixed
Supplementation with marine long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA and DHA) reduces cardiovascular risk in primary prevention and secondary prevention for patients with low baseline status and limited polypharmacy, but recent trials show null results in highly medicated secondary prevention populations.
Aim to eat fatty fish regularly to get EPA and DHA. If you are not eating fish, consider supplementation, especially if you have low baseline levels. However, if you are already on many heart medications, the added benefit of supplements may be minimal.
GoodQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
The evidence for the benefits of EPA and DHA in the primary prevention of CVD is convincing, with secondary prevention benefits most likely in those with low status and on a limited number of prescribed medications.
Why this rating
Based on prospective epidemiological studies and older RCTs (DART1, GISSI), though recent RCTs (NPS) show null results in specific contexts.
Source
The big fat debate
Anne Marie Minihane · Nutrition Bulletin · 2017
DOI 10.1111/nbu.12302
narrative_reviewCited 3×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Replacing saturated fatty acids (SFA) with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) reduces coronary heart disease (CHD) risk by 2-3% for every 1% of energy substituted, whereas replacing SFA with low-quality carbohydrates (refined starches/sugars) provides no such benefit and may increase risk.Good
- High intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) at the population level is not associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence or mortality, provided the SFA is not replaced by low-quality carbohydrates.Good
Related findings · Mixed
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