Evidence supporting the use of: Omega-3 fatty acids
For the health condition: Congestive Heart Failure

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have scientific support for their use as adjunctive therapy in the management of congestive heart failure (CHF). Several clinical trials and meta-analyses suggest that omega-3 supplementation may provide modest benefits in patients with heart failure. The most notable evidence comes from the GISSI-HF trial (2008), a large, randomized, placebo-controlled study involving over 6,000 patients with chronic heart failure. This trial found that daily supplementation with 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids resulted in a small but statistically significant reduction in all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalizations compared to placebo.

The proposed mechanisms for the beneficial effects of omega-3s in CHF include anti-inflammatory properties, reduction in arrhythmia risk, improvement in endothelial function, and favorable effects on cardiac remodeling. Omega-3s may also have anti-thrombotic effects and help reduce elevated triglyceride levels, which can be relevant in heart failure management.

Though the benefits are modest, international guidelines such as those from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) recognize omega-3 fatty acids as a reasonable adjunctive therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, especially when optimal medical therapy has already been established. However, the evidence is not strong enough to recommend omega-3 fatty acids as a primary or standalone therapy for CHF, and the overall effect size is modest, which is reflected in the evidence score.

More about omega-3 fatty acids
More about Congestive Heart Failure

Other health conditions supported by omega-3 fatty acids

Acne
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Addictions (drugs)
Addictions (general remedies for)
Addictions (tobacco smoking or chewing)
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Allergies (food)
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Angina
Anorexia
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Apathy
Arrhythmia
Arteriosclerosis
Anger (excessive)
Arthritis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Bipolar Mood Disorder
Birth Defects (prevention)
Blood Clots (prevention of)
Bloodshot Eyes
Body Building
Broken Bones
Bulimia
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Cardiovascular Disease
Cartilage Damage
Cholesterol (high)
Cholesterol (low)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
Circulation (poor)
Circulation (to the brain)
Concentration (poor)
Concussions
Confusion
Congestive Heart Failure
Dementia
Depression
Diabetes
Dysmenorrhea
Eczema
Emotional Sensitivity
Endometriosis
Epilepsy
Exercise
Eye Problems
Eyes (red or itching)
Eyesight (poor)
Fat Metabolism (poor)
Fatigue
Fatty Liver Disease
Fibrosis
Free Radical Damage
Glaucoma
Gout
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Hashimoto's Disease
Hearing Loss
Heart (weakness)
Heart Fibrillation or Palpitations
Hepatitis
Hypertension
Infertility
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Irritability
Lou Gehrig's Disease
Lupus
Macular Degeneration
Memory and Brain Function
Menopause
Metabolic Syndrome
Migraine
Muscular Dystrophy
Nerve Damage
Neuralgia and Neuritis
Numbness
Osteoporosis
Parkinson's Disease
Peripheral Neuropathy
Pets (supplements for)
PMS Type D
PMS Type P
PMS Type S
Polyps
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Psoriasis
Raynaud's Disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rosacea
Schizophrenia
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seborrhea
Seizures
Senility
Sickle Cell Anemia
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin Care (general)
Spinal Disks
Strokes
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Thinking (cloudy)
Thrombosis
Triglycerides (high)
Triglycerides (low)
Vaginal Dryness