Key Findings
The Alpha Omega Trial, totaling 4837 patients, showed that low dose n 3 fatty acids did not significantly affect cardiovascular events in post myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Higher levels of the biomarker NT pro BNP correlate with MI and left ventricular dysfunction. In this study, 396 mg EPA DHA with or without 2 g ALA over 40 months did not have a beneficial effect on NT proBNP in patients with a history of MI. These findings may be attributed to statins, a treatment common to the subjects studied here, as well as the low number of subjects. The authors note that future work should explore higher amounts of n3 fatty acid supplementation on NT proBNP in larger numbers of subjects.
ABSTRACT
Background: heart failure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular mortality, for which n 3 fatty acids may have beneficial effects. We examined the effect of marine eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and plant derived alpha linolenic acid (ALA) on N Terminal pro Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT proBNP), a biomarker of heart failure. Methods: we randomly assigned 4837 post myocardial infarction patients, aged 60 to 80 years (82 per cent men), to margarines supplemented with a targeted additional intake of 400 mg per day EPA and DHA, 2 g per day ALA, EPA DHA plus ALA, or placebo for 40 months. In a random selection of 639 patients, NT minus proBNP was determined both at baseline and at the end of follow up. NT proBNP was loge transformed and analysed by type of treatment using analysis of covariance adjusting for baseline NT proNBP. Results: patients consumed on average 19.8 g margarine per day, providing an additional amount of 238 mg per day EPA with 158 mg per day DHA, 1.98 g per day ALA, or both, in the active treatment groups. In the placebo group, the geometric mean level NT proBNP increased from 245 ng per l after 40 months. NT proBNP levels were not affected by ALA, EPA DHA , nor EPA DHA plus ALA (9 percent versus placebo treatment. Conclusions: Supplementation with modest amounts of EPA DHA, with or without ALA, did not have a significant effect on NT proBNP levels in patients with a history of myocardial infarction. (Authors abstract)
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