Skip to main page content
Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2012 Dec;31(6):846-53.
doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2012.05.010. Epub 2012 Jun 6.

Fish consumption, omega-3 fatty acids and risk of heart failure: a meta-analysis

Luc Djoussé  1 , Akintunde O Akinkuolie, Jason H Y Wu, Eric L Ding, J Michael Gaziano
Affiliations
Free PMC article
Review

Fish consumption, omega-3 fatty acids and risk of heart failure: a meta-analysis

Luc Djoussé et al. Clin Nutr. .
Free PMC article
Favorites

Abstract

Background & aims: While marine omega-3 fatty acids have been associated with a lower mortality in heart failure patients, data on omega-3 and incident heart failure are inconsistent. We systematically reviewed the evidence on the association of omega-3 fatty acids and fish intake with the incidence of heart failure in this meta-analysis.

Methods: We identified relevant studies by searching MEDLINE and EMBASE databases up to August 31, 2011 without restrictions and by reviewing reference lists from retrieved articles.

Results: A total of 176,441 subjects and 5480 incident cases of heart failure from 7 prospective studies were included in this analysis. Using random effect model, the pooled relative risk for heart failure comparing the highest to lowest category of fish intake was 0.85 (95% CI; 0.73-0.99), p = 0.04; corresponding value for marine omega-3 fatty acids was 0.86 (0.74-1.00), p = 0.05. There was no evidence for heterogeneity across studies of fish consumption (I(2) = 8%). In contrast, there was modest heterogeneity for omega-3 fatty acid analysis (I(2) = 44%). Lastly, there was no evidence for publication bias.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis is consistent with a lower risk of heart failure with intake of marine omega-3 fatty acids. These observational findings should be confirmed in a large randomized trial.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

Luc Djousse: Travel reimbursement from the International Nut and Dried Fruit Foundation

Akintunde O. Akinkuolie: None

Jason H.Y. Wu: None

Eric L. Ding: None

J Michael Gaziano: None

Figures

Figure 1
Search and selection of studies included in the meta-analysis
Figure 2
Adjusted relative risks of heart failure according to the highest vs. lowest category of fish intake (Panel A) and EPA and DHA (Panel B). CI denotes confidence interval; HF: heart failure; the size of each square is proportional to the study’s weight (inverse of variance –IV).
Figure 3
Funnel plot assessing publication bias
Figure 4
Dose-response association of fish intake (Panel A) and dietary EPA+DHA with the risk of heart failure using random effects GLST analysis. Pooled relative risks (solid black lines) and 95% confidence intervals (dashed lines) at each quantity of intake are reported. Gray lines connect study-specific relative risk according to fish or EPA/DHA levels. Vertical axis is on a log scale represents relative risk. The median intake in the lowest category of fish (0 g/d) and EPA+DHA (14 mg/d) were used as reference groups to estimate the pooled relative risks of the higher levels.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by 31 articles

See all "Cited by" articles

Substances

Feedback