Complementary and Alternative Care/Dietary Supplements
Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Health Effects
March 2004
Clinical Focus*
Diabetes
- What is the evidence in adults or children with (a) type II
diabetes, or (b) insulin resistance/the metabolic syndrome for an effect
of omega-3 fatty acids on:
- Total cholesterol?
- HDL cholesterol?
- LDL cholesterol?
- Triglycerides?
-
What is the evidence in adults and children for an effect of omega-3
fatty acids on insulin sensitivity in (a) type II diabetes or (b) the
metabolic syndrome?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- What is the evidence for the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids
in treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis?
- What is the evidence in adults or children with inflammatory
bowel disease that omega-3 fatty acids can replace steroids or other
immunosuppressive drugs?
- What is the evidence that the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids
are influenced by the concomitant administration of various immunosuppressive
agents in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease?
Rheumatoid Arthritis
- What is the evidence in adults or children with rheumatoid arthritis
that omega-3 fatty acids affect:
- Pain?
- Number of swollen joints?
- Disease activity?
- Patients' global assessment?
- Joint damage?
- What is the evidence in adults or children with rheumatoid arthritis
that omega-3 fatty acids can replace other more potent anti-inflammatory
or immunosuppressive drugs such as steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs?
- What is the evidence that the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids
are influenced by the concomitant administration of various immunosuppressive
agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis?
Renal Disease
- What is the evidence for the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids
in treatment of renal inflammation and glomerulosclerosis?
- What is the evidence in adults or children with immune-mediated
renal disease that omega-3 fatty acids can replace steroids or other
immunosuppressive drugs?
- What is the evidence that the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids
are influenced by the concomitant administration of various immunosuppressive
agents in the treatment of immune-mediated renal disease?
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
- What is the evidence in adults or children with SLE that omega-3
fatty acids affect disease activity, damage, or patient perceptions of
outcomes in SLE?
- What is the evidence that the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids
in the treatment of SLE are influenced by the concomitant administration
of various immunosuppressive agents?
Bone Density/Osteoporosis
- What is the evidence that omega-3 fatty acids help maintain
bone mineral status?
*Addressed in the summary or evidence report.
Health Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Lipids and Glycemic Control in Type II Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome and on Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Renal Disease, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Osteoporosis
Summary (Publication No. 04-E012-1, March 2004)
Evidence Report (Publication No. 04-E012-2, March 2004)
(PDF Files; File Download)
EPC: Southern California—RAND Evidence-based Practice Center
Topic Nominator: Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health
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