Effects of ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Coronary Atherosclerosis and Inflammation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09

Effects of ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Coronary Atherosclerosis and Inflammation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Gao et al., 2022 | Front Cardiovasc Med | Systematic Review

Citation

Gao Zheng, Zhang Dewen, ... Xian Xiaohui. Effects of ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Coronary Atherosclerosis and Inflammation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022;9:904250. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2022.904250

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Multiple guidelines suggest the ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) help to prevent major vascular events of coronary heart disease (CHD), but the data on large trials of ω-3 fatty acids are controversial. We reviewed the available evidence to determine the effect of ω-3 PUFAs on coronary atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature were from online databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or observational studies were acceptable. Quantitative data synthesis was conducted using R version 4.1.2. Each outcome was calculated using standardized mean difference (SMD) in a random-effect model. Sensitivity analysis was conducted for each outcome. A total of 21 RCTs and 1 observational study with 2,277 participants were included. RESULTS: Meta-analysis indicated a benefit of ω-3 PUFAs on coronary atherosclerosis, namely, (1) ω-3 PUFAs can reduce the atherosclerotic plaque volume (SMD -0.18; 95% CI -0.31 to -0.05); (2) ω-3 PUFAs can help reduce the loss of the diameter of the narrowest segments of coronary arteries in patients with CHD (SMD 0.29; 95% CI, 0.05-0.53); (3) ω-3 PUFAs do not have significant effect on volume of lipid plaque in coronary arteries (SMD -1.18; 95% CI -2.95 to 0.58), volume of fiber plaque (SMD 0.26; 95% CI -0.81 to 1.33), and calcified plaque (SMD 0.17; 95% CI -0.55 to 0.89); and (4) ω-3 PUFAs had no significant effect on endothelial inflammatory factors in peripheral blood. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that ω-3 PUFAs benefit patients with CHD by reducing the progression of coronary atherosclerosis. We indicated that the benefits were not caused by reducing endothelial inflammations of coronary arteries. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021285139, identifier: CRD42021285139.

Key Findings

Meta-analysis indicated a benefit of ω-3 PUFAs on coronary atherosclerosis, namely, (1) ω-3 PUFAs can reduce the atherosclerotic plaque volume (SMD -0.18; 95% CI -0.31 to -0.05); (2) ω-3 PUFAs can help reduce the loss of the diameter of the narrowest segments of coronary arteries in patients with CHD (SMD 0.29; 95% CI, 0.05-0.53); (3) ω-3 PUFAs do not have significant effect on volume of lipid plaque in coronary arteries (SMD -1.18; 95% CI -2.95 to 0.58), volume of fiber plaque (SMD 0.26; 95% CI

Outcomes Measured

  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population chd
Sample Size 2277
Age Range See abstract
Condition inflammation

MeSH Terms

  • No MeSH terms indexed

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Systematic Review, Journal Article
  • Vertical: omega-3-inflammation

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09