Omega-3 Meds Not Effective After myocardial infarctions

The European Medicine Agency’s (EMA’s) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has concluded that omega-3 fatty acid medicines are not effective for secondary prevention after myocardial infarction (MI).

Omega-3 fatty acid medicines at a dose of 1 g per day have been authorized in several European Union countries since 2000 for preventing heart disease or stroke after MI and for lowering high triglycerides.

The Committee’s decision does not affect the authorization of omega-3 fatty acid medicines for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.

the large VITAL trial, which found little benefit from omega-3 supplements (or vitamin D supplementation) for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

In the ASCEND trial, a 1 g dose of omega-3 fatty acids had no effect on serious vascular events (or cancer or mortality) when used for primary prevention in patients with diabetes.

However, in the REDUCE-IT trial 4 g dose of  a high-dose purified form of the omega-3 oil, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), in patients with elevated triglycerides who had cardiovascular disease or diabetes and one additional risk factor did show significant benefit, with a 25% relative risk reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events.