Omega-3 fatty acids and endothelial function: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#humans #brachial-artery #dietary-supplements #endothelium-vascular #fatty-acids-omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acids and endothelial function: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis

Arabi et al., 2024 | Eur J Clin Invest | Meta Analysis

Citation

Arabi Seyyed Mostafa, Bahari Hossein, ... Sahebkar Amirhossein. Omega-3 fatty acids and endothelial function: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Invest. 2024-Feb;54(2):e14109. doi:10.1111/eci.14109

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) supplementation has been reported to have an impact on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), a conventionally used clinical technique for estimating endothelial dysfunction. However, its proven effects on endothelial function are unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the effects of n-3 PUFAs supplementation on FMD of the brachial artery. METHOD: This study was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. To identify eligible RCTs, a systematic search was completed in PubMed/Medline, Scopus and Web of Science using relevant keywords. A fixed- or random-effects model was utilized to estimate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). RESULTS: Thirty-two studies (with 35 arms) were included in this meta-analysis, involving 2385 subjects with intervention duration ranging from 4 to 48 weeks. The pooled meta-analysis demonstrated a significant effect of omega-3 on FMD (WMD = 0.8%, 95% CI = 0.3-1.3, p = .001) and heterogeneity was significant (I2  = 82.5%, p < .001). CONCLUSION: We found that n-3 PUFA supplementation improves endothelial function as estimated by flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery.

Key Findings

Thirty-two studies (with 35 arms) were included in this meta-analysis, involving 2385 subjects with intervention duration ranging from 4 to 48 weeks. The pooled meta-analysis demonstrated a significant effect of omega-3 on FMD (WMD = 0.8%, 95% CI = 0.3-1.3, p = .001) and heterogeneity was significant (I2  = 82.5%, p < .001).

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population intervention duration ranging from
Sample Size 2385
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Brachial Artery
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Endothelium, Vascular
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3

Evidence Classification

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

Provenance

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