07.02.12
According to a study published online in the New England Journal of Medicine in June, there is no evidence that omega 3 fatty acid supplementation (a dosage of 1 gram per day) reduces adverse cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetics or pre-diabetics. The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), Salt Lake City, UT, weighed in and offered its take on the study. For starters, GOED said, “The totality of the publicly available scientific evidence demonstrates a cardiovascular benefit of EPA and DHA in healthy populations, as well as in the majority of populations with pre-existing cardiovascular ailments.” What’s more, “The list of long-chain omega 3 recommendations from professional organizations and government bodies continues to grow because the cardiovascular benefits associated with EPA and DHA are so compelling,” GOED said.
To support its opposition to the study outcome, GOED questioned if the trial was “adequately powered” to detect differences between treatment and placebo groups, pointing to subgroup analyses in previous studies that had demonstrated cardiovascular (CV) benefits in diabetic subjects.
“Compared to past studies demonstrating CV benefits of the long-chain omega 3s, subjects in the current trial [also] received better treatment with statins, antithrombotics and antihypertensive medications. Such treatment makes it less likely to be able to detect a benefit of the long-chain omega 3s,” GOED stated. The Organization also questioned the study’s omega 3 dosage and duration of the dosage period. “840 mg EPA + DHA may have been too low a dose to demonstrate any significant CV benefit(s),” GOED said. “[And] the supplementation period may have been too short to demonstrate any significant CV benefit(s).
GOED also weighed in on a study published by The Cochrane Library, which questioned the effectiveness of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3 PUFAs) for preventing dementia in older people. According to the researchers, previous research from observational studies has suggested that increased consumption of fish oils rich in omega 3 long-chain PUFAs might reduce the chance of developing dementia, while other studies showed no effect. Oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines represent a rich source of omega 3 PUFAs, which are essential for brain development. The results of the available studies showed no benefit for cognitive function with omega 3 PUFA supplementation among cognitively healthy older people. The researchers said longer studies are required, during which greater changes in cognitive function might occur, to enable researchers to identify possible benefits of omega 3 PUFA in preventing cognitive decline. To this, GOED agreed, and then listed several studies that have shown benefit, including the MIDAS study (Memory Improvement with Docosahexaenoic Acid Study), which demonstrated that 24-week supplementation with 900 mg/day of DHA improved learning and memory function in age-related cognitive decline.
To support its opposition to the study outcome, GOED questioned if the trial was “adequately powered” to detect differences between treatment and placebo groups, pointing to subgroup analyses in previous studies that had demonstrated cardiovascular (CV) benefits in diabetic subjects.
“Compared to past studies demonstrating CV benefits of the long-chain omega 3s, subjects in the current trial [also] received better treatment with statins, antithrombotics and antihypertensive medications. Such treatment makes it less likely to be able to detect a benefit of the long-chain omega 3s,” GOED stated. The Organization also questioned the study’s omega 3 dosage and duration of the dosage period. “840 mg EPA + DHA may have been too low a dose to demonstrate any significant CV benefit(s),” GOED said. “[And] the supplementation period may have been too short to demonstrate any significant CV benefit(s).
GOED also weighed in on a study published by The Cochrane Library, which questioned the effectiveness of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3 PUFAs) for preventing dementia in older people. According to the researchers, previous research from observational studies has suggested that increased consumption of fish oils rich in omega 3 long-chain PUFAs might reduce the chance of developing dementia, while other studies showed no effect. Oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines represent a rich source of omega 3 PUFAs, which are essential for brain development. The results of the available studies showed no benefit for cognitive function with omega 3 PUFA supplementation among cognitively healthy older people. The researchers said longer studies are required, during which greater changes in cognitive function might occur, to enable researchers to identify possible benefits of omega 3 PUFA in preventing cognitive decline. To this, GOED agreed, and then listed several studies that have shown benefit, including the MIDAS study (Memory Improvement with Docosahexaenoic Acid Study), which demonstrated that 24-week supplementation with 900 mg/day of DHA improved learning and memory function in age-related cognitive decline.