The Benefits of Marine Omega-3s for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease.

ABSTRACT

There has been a raging debate whether marine omega-3s are effective for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Our review paper discusses the landmark clinical studies testing the benefits of marine omega-3s. Moreover, for the first time, the REDUCE-IT study tested a high dose of marine omega-3s (4 grams of icosapent ethyl per day) on top of statin therapy in patients with established cardiovascular disease or with diabetes and additional risk factors with concomitant high triglyceride levels and noted a highly significant 25% reduction in the primary endpoint. Thus, in patients who are not in the early post myocardial infarction setting, high dose marine omega-3s (4 grams per day) may be required to provide cardiovascular benefit when given on top of optimized medical therapy.