Evidence Report/Technology Assessment Number 91

Health Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Asthma

File Inventory

Prepared by:

University of Ottawa Evidence-based Practice Center at the University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Canada

David Moher, M.Sc.
Howard M Schachter, Ph.D.
   Co-Directors
Investigators
   Howard M Schachter, Ph.D.
   Joe Reisman, M.D.
   Khai Tran, Ph.D.
   Bob Dales, M.D.
   Kader Kourad M.D., Ph.D.
   David Barnes, M.D.
   Margaret Sampson, M.L.I.S.
   Andra Morrison, B.Sc.
   Isabelle Gaboury, M.Sc.
   Janine Blackman, M.D., Ph.D.

File Name	Description			Software	Version	File	Size
________________________________________________________________________________________________
01report.doc	Microsoft Word® Document	MS Word®	2002	1.6MB	111 pages
Contents: Title Page, Preface, Acknowledgments, Structured Abstract, Table of Contents;
Chapter 1. Introduction: Metabolism and Biological Effects of Essential Fatty Acids; 
  Metabolic Pathways of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids; Figure 1. Classical omega-3 and 
  omega-6 fatty acid synthesis pathways and the role of omega-3 fatty acids in regulating 
  health/disease markers, U.S. Population Intake of Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Table 1. Estimates of 
  the meanąstandard error of the mean (SEM) intake of linoleic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid 
  (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the US population; 
  based on analyses of a single 24-hour dietary recall of NHANES III data; Table 2. Mean, range, 
  median, and standard error of the mean (SEM) of usual daily intakes of linoleic acid (LA), 
  total omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 
  docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the US population, based on 
  CSFII data (1994-1996, 1998), Dietary Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Dietary Sources of 
  Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Table 3. The omega-3 fatty acid content, in grams per 100 g food serving, 
  of a representative sample of commonly consumed fish, shellfish, fish oils, nuts and seeds, 
  and plant oils that contain at least 5 g omega-3 fatty acids per 100 g; Asthma: A Chronic 
  Inflammatory Disease; 
Chapter 2. Methods: Overview; Key Questions Addressed in This Report; Analytic Framework; 
  Figure 2. Analytic Framework for omega-3 fatty acids in asthma; Study Identification; 
  Data Abstraction; Summarizing the Evidence; 
Chapter 3. Results: Results of Literature Search; Report and Study Design Characteristics of 
  Included Studies; Question 1: What is the evidence for the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids 
  to improve respiratory outcomes among individuals with asthma?; Summary Table 1. RCT evidence 
  of omega-3 fatty acids to improve respiratory outcomes in asthma; Summary Matrix 1. Study quality 
  and applicability of RCT evidence regarding respiratory outcomes; Summary Table 2. Evidence from 
  other study designs of omega-3 fatty acids to improve respiratory outcomes in asthma; 
  Summary Matrix 2. Study quality and applicability of evidence regarding respiratory outcomes 
  from study designs other than an RCT; Question 2: What is the evidence that the possible value 
  (efficacy/association) of omega-3 fatty acids in improving respiratory outcomes is dependent 
  on specific effect modifiers?; Summary Table 3. An indirect assessment of the impact of effect 
  modifiers on the value of omega-3 fatty acids to improve four respiratory outcomes in asthma, 
  organized by research design; Question 3: What is the evidence that, in individuals with asthma, 
  omega-3 fatty acids influence mediators of inflammation which are thought to be related to the 
  pathogenesis of asthma?; Summary Table 4. RCT evidence of omega-3 fatty acids to influence mediators 
  of inflammation in asthma; Summary Matrix 3. Study quality and applicability of RCT evidence 
  regarding mediators of inflammation; Summary Table 5. Evidence from other study designs of 
  omega-3 fatty acids to influence mediators of inflammation in asthma; Summary Matrix 4. Study 
  quality and applicability of evidence regarding mediators of inflammation from study designs 
  other than an RCT; Question 4: Are omega-3 fatty acids effective in the primary prevention of asthma?
  Summary Table 6. RCT evidence of omega-3 fatty acids to prevent asthma in children; Summary Table 7. 
  Observational study evidence of omega-3 fatty acids for primary prevention of asthma; Summary Matrix 5. 
  Study quality and applicability of observational study evidence regarding primary prevention; 
  Question 5: Among Individuals with Asthma, do Omega-3 Fatty Acids Alter the Progression of Asthma 
  (i.e., Secondary Prevention)?; Question 6: What is the Evidence for Adverse Events, Side Effects, 
  or Counter-Indications Associated with Omega-3 Fatty Acid Use to Treat or Prevent Asthma (DHA, EPA, 
  DPA, ALA, Fish Oil, Fish)?; Summary Table 8. Studies reporting adverse events, side effects, and 
  counter-indications; Question 7: What is the Evidence that Omega-3 Fatty Acids are Associated with 
  Adverse Events in Specific Subpopulations of Asthmatic Individual such as Diabetics?; 
Chapter 4. Discussion: Overview; The Evidence; Critical Analysis; The Decision to Forgo Meta-Analysis; 
  Clinical Implications; Research Implications and Possibilities; Limitations of the Review; Conclusion
References and Included Studies; Excluded Studies; Abbreviations
________________________________________________________________________________________________

AHRQ Publication No. 04-E013-2
Current as of March 2004

Internet Citation:

Health Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Asthma. File Inventory, Evidence Report/Technology Assessment Number 91. AHRQ Publication No. 04-E013-2, March 2004. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/o3asminv.htm

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