By DAVID L. KATZ
September 20, 2012 RSS pass on Print
David Katz
A meta-analysis published last week in theJournal of the American Medical Associationreported no effect of omega-3 fatty acerb supplementsâ€"often referred to as fish oilâ€"on cardiovascular solvent rates. Predictably, the memorise made headlines. It was welcomed by those inclined to damage the touchy-feely world ofalternative medical treatments and was lamented and rejected by advocates for the kinder, gentler remedies of nature. Which picture is correct? Lets see if we can fillet open the details.
This meta-analysis, standardized all such studies, pooled data from prior trials. In this case, besides randomized trials were included, and only those for which deaths, cardiac deaths, sudden cardiac deaths, smell attacks, and/or strokes were reported as outcomes. The final sample was 20 studies, representing an aggregate population of just slightly less than 70,000 patients.
The field of study conclusion, and the parade of related pop culture headlines, indicated no evidential effects of omega-3 supplementation on any of the v outcomes of interest. But, actually, something about that punch line is more than a piddling fishy.
The study showed, in fact, that omega-3 supplementation was associated with a satisfying reduction in cardiac death, and nearly significant reductions in dying of any cause, sudden cardiac death, and heart attack.
In some ways, even a suggestion of clinically relevant effects of omega-3 fatty acids in such a context is rather extraordinary. Consider that the fundamental requirement for a randomized, controlled trial testing a hypothesisâ€"in this case, that omega-3 fatty acid supplements can reduce cardiac event ratesâ€"is that the two treatment pigeonholings be alike in all ways but the intervention. In other words, the study participants should have everything in common, on average, except that one group gets fish oil, and the other group gets placebo.
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