Nutritional Research, Volume 4

Full Title: Nutritional Research Series: Advancing the Role of Evidence-based Reviews in Nutrition Research and Applications Volume 4: Effects of Eicosapentanoic Acid and Docosahexanoic Acid on Mortality Across Diverse Settings: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials and Prospective Cohorts February 2012 The fourth volume of the Nutritional Research Series is a systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence from prospective cohorts and randomized controlled trials on the relationship of eicosopentanoic acid (EPA) and docosexaenoic acid (DHA) intakes with cardiovascular or all-cause mortality. The aim was to assess the apparent congruence of these two types of study designs and to describe how randomized intervention trials and observational studies compare in their target populations, outcome definitions, and results, with the intent to define the dose-response relationships of EPA and DHA intakes to cardiovascular and all-cause mortality across diverse settings and wide ranges of intake levels. View or download Review Structured Abstract Background: Eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) intake may protect from cardiovascular or all-cause mortality. Objective: To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and large prospective cohorts on the effects of EPA and DHA on cardiac, cardiovascular, or all-cause mortality. Design: We conducted a systematic review with random effects meta-analysis and mixed effects dose-response meta-regression. Included were RCTs of EPA and DHA supplementation (>4 weeks of intervention, <6 grams per day) and large prospective cohorts (>1000 people, >3 years of followup) quantifying DHA or EPA intake. Results: In RCTs, the summary relative risks for all-cause mortality (17 trials, 51,264 patients) and cardiovascular mortality (14 trials, 48,500 patients) were 0.95 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.89, 1.01) and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.83, 0.96), respectively, with no evidence for heterogeneity. The effect of DHA and EPA was not significantly associated with population or study characteristics or supplement dose. In dose-response meta-regressions, mean EPA and DHA intake up to 0.20 grams daily was associated with decreased risk of cardiac, cardiovascular, or sudden cardiac death (odds ratio 0.64 per 0.20 grams average daily intake, 95% CI: 0.46, 0.89—data from 7 cohorts, 123,122 participants), with no significant change in risk (positive or negative) at higher mean intakes. Dose-response analyses were not statistically significant for other intake thresholds or alternative mortality definitions. Conclusions: The maximal positive effect of EPA and DHA appears to plateau at a mean daily intake of 0.20 grams. There is no evidence that the effect of EPA and DHA on mortality phenotypes differs across populations and settings. Download Review Nutritional Research Series, Volume 4: Effects of Eicosapentanoic Acid and Docosahexanoic Acid on Mortality Across Diverse Settings Technical Review (Publication No. 12-EHC040-EF): (PDF File, 975 KB) Plugin Software Help. Evidence-based Practice Center: Tufts EPC Topic Sponsor: Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health Current as of February 2012 Internet Citation: EPC Technical Papers Series: Advancing the Role of Evidence-based Reviews in Nutrition Research and Applications. Volume 4: Effects of Eicosapentanoic Acid and Docosahexanoic Acid on Mortality Across Diverse Settings, Structured Abstract. February 2012. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/nutritn4tp.htm