Positive Health Online

Abstract

JOHANSEN and colleagues, Department of Cardiology, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. odd.johansen@ioks.uio.no studied whether omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) reduce the occurrence of restenosis following coronary angioplasty.

Background

Meta-analyses have demonstrated a significant reduction of restenosis following coronary angioplasty with n-3 FA supplementation.

Methodology

The authors conducted a prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in which 500 patients were randomly assigned to either treatment with n-3 FA (5.1 g/day) or placebo (corn oil), commencing at least 2 weeks prior to elective coronary angioplasty. Treatment was continued until restenosis evaluation using quantitative coronary angiography six months later. 392 patients fulfilled the criteria for initial stenosis and successful coronary angioplasty and were all available for follow-up except for 4 patients who died.

Results

Restenosis occurred in 40.6% of the treated stenoses in the n-3 FA group and 35.4% in the placebo group. In the n-3 FA group one or more restenoses occurred in 45.9% patients as compared with 44.8% in the placebo group.

Conclusion

Supplementation with 5.1 g n-3 FA per day for 6 months, initiated at least 2 weeks prior to coronary angioplasty did not reduce the incidence of restenosis.

References

Johansen O et al. N-3 fatty acids do not prevent restenosis after coronary angioplasty: results from the CART study. Coronary Angioplasty Restenosis Trial. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 33(6): 1619-26. May 1999.