Dose-dependent effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on C-reactive protein concentrations in cardiometabolic disorders: a dose-response meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
PubMed 40263171 · doi:10.1007/s10787-025-01744-8
What was done
A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 40 randomized clinical trials evaluated the impact of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA and DHA) on C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in patients with cardiometabolic disorders. The authors utilized random-effects models and restricted cubic spline models to assess linear and non-linear dose-response relationships across specific diagnostic subgroups.
What was found
The abstract reports no exact numerical effect sizes, confidence intervals, or p-values. It found a significant non-linear dose-response reduction in CRP concentration up to 1200 mg/day of EPA and DHA in patients with cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension. A linear decrease occurred in patients with dyslipidemia. In type 2 diabetes, pooled results showed a significant reduction in CRP overall, but no significant dose-response relationship for combined EPA and DHA. No significant CRP reduction or dose-response relationship was found in overweight and obese participants.
Why it matters
The findings identify a possible target dose (1200 mg/day of EPA and DHA) for anti-inflammatory effects in specific cardiometabolic conditions, while highlighting that omega-3 supplementation may not reduce CRP across all subgroups, such as obesity.
Limits
The abstract does not provide exact numerical effect sizes, variance estimates, confidence intervals, or total participant counts across the 40 trials. Long-term hard clinical endpoints were not assessed, and outcomes varied considerably by specific cardiometabolic condition.
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