Cited by 512Fatty Acid Research and HealthLipid metabolism and disordersLipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 122 of the 125 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 46 of the 155 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids for the Management of Hypertriglyceridemia: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association

Open access
Skulas-Ray, Ann C., Wilson, Peter W.F., Harris, William S., Brinton, Eliot A., Kris-Etherton, Penny M., Richter, Chesney K., Jacobson, Terry A., Engler, Mary B., Miller, Michael, Robinson, Jennifer G., Blum, Conrad B., Rodriguez-Leyva, Delfin, de Ferranti, Sarah D., Welty, Francine K., On behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Council on Clinical Cardiology·2019·Circulation

Abstract

Hypertriglyceridemia (triglycerides 200-499 mg/dL) is relatively common in the United States, whereas more severe triglyceride elevations (very high triglycerides, ≥500 mg/dL) are far less frequently observed. Both are becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States and elsewhere, likely driven in large part by growing rates of obesity and diabetes mellitus. In a 2002 American Heart Association scientific statement, the omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were recommended (at a dose of 2-4 g/d) for reducing triglycerides in patients with elevated triglycerides. Since 2002, prescription agents containing EPA+DHA or EPA alone have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating very high triglycerides; these agents are also widely used for hypertriglyceridemia. The purpose of this advisory is to summarize the lipid and lipoprotein effects resulting from pharmacological doses of n-3 FAs (>3 g/d total EPA+DHA) on the basis of new scientific data and availability of n-3 FA agents. In treatment of very high triglycerides with 4 g/d, EPA+DHA agents reduce triglycerides by ≥30% with concurrent increases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, whereas EPA-only did not raise low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in very high triglycerides. When used to treat hypertriglyceridemia, n-3 FAs with EPA+DHA or with EPA-only appear roughly comparable for triglyceride lowering and do not increase low-density lipoprotein cholesterol when used as monotherapy or in combination with a statin. In the largest trials of 4 g/d prescription n-3 FA, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B were modestly decreased, indicating reductions in total atherogenic lipoproteins. The use of n-3 FA (4 g/d) for improving atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk in patients with hypertriglyceridemia is supported by a 25% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in REDUCE-IT (Reduction of Cardiovascular Events With EPA Intervention Trial), a randomized placebo-controlled trial of EPA-only in high-risk patients treated with a statin. The results of a trial of 4 g/d prescription EPA+DHA in hypertriglyceridemia are anticipated in 2020. We conclude that prescription n-3 FAs (EPA+DHA or EPA-only) at a dose of 4 g/d (>3 g/d total EPA+DHA) are an effective and safe option for reducing triglycerides as monotherapy or as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering agents.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1161/cir.0000000000000709

Cites

122 of 125 references verified0 citation errors · 3 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

50 No full text of the sources · 31 Own interpretation · 18 Partly supported · 13 No basis given · 7 Supported so far · 5 Not supported · 5 Couldn’t confirm · 5 Sources not found · 4 Supported · 4 Not checked yet · 2 Own method · 1 Mixed support · 1 Own result · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 86 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 54
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 9
60 of 60
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The reviewed trials are sufficiently comparable that their results can be combined or compared to summarize the effects of prescription n-3 fatty acids in hypertriglyceridemia and very high triglycerides.

    “To evaluate and summarize the existing clinical evidence for n-3 FA effects on HTG, we identified and compared studies meeting the following criteria: administration of 4 g/d prescription n-3 FA or an equivalent amount of EPA+DHA from dietary supplements (>3 g/d EPA+DHA), mean/median baseline triglyceride values between 200 and 499 mg/dL, results reported from at least 20 people per study arm, and”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The effects of n-3 fatty acids on triglycerides and lipoproteins observed in the reviewed trials apply to the broader population of patients with elevated triglycerides.

    “We conclude that prescription n-3 FAs (EPA+DHA or EPA-only) at a dose of 4 g/d (>3 g/d total EPA+DHA) are an effective and safe option for reducing triglycerides as monotherapy or as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering agents.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The REDUCE-IT result with EPA-only can support the use of n-3 fatty acids generally for improving atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

    “The use of n-3 FA (4 g/d) for improving atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk in patients with hypertriglyceridemia is supported by a 25% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in REDUCE-IT (Reduction of Cardiovascular Events With EPA Intervention Trial), a randomized placebo-controlled trial of EPA-only in high-risk patients treated with a statin.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The lipid effects reported across different trials can be compared despite differences in populations, background therapies, and assay methods.

    “However, a descriptive comparison of the triglyceride and LDL-C effects in major studies of the 3 n-3 FA agents in patients with HTG is shown in the Figure.31,[39][40][41]”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No FDA-regulated n-3 FA preparations are available without a prescription.

    “there are no over-the-counter n-3 FA products; that is, no FDA-regulated n-3 FA preparations are available without a prescription.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The potency, quality, and efficacy of dietary supplements are not initially reviewed or approved, nor subsequently monitored or assured by the FDA, so they are not indicated for the treatment of disease.

    “The potency, quality, and efficacy of dietary supplements are not initially reviewed or approved, nor are they subsequently monitored or assured by the FDA; thus, they are not indicated for the treatment of disease.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Prescription n-3 FA agents are reviewed, approved, monitored, and assured by the FDA.

    “Prescription n-3 FA agents, in contrast, are reviewed, approved, monitored, and assured by the FDA.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Dietary supplement omega-3 preparations are considerably less expensive per 1 g EPA+DHA than pharmaceutical products.

    “Dietary supplement omega-3 preparations are considerably less expensive (per 1 g EPA+DHA) than pharmaceutical products”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Many n-3 FA dietary supplements meet all their label claims and do not contain oxidation products or environmental contaminants.

    “Although many n-3 FA dietary supplements meet all their label claims and do not contain oxidation products or environmental contaminants”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Dietary supplement n-3 FA products are not indicated for the treatment of HTG or VHTG because they are not approved by the FDA for this purpose.

    “these products are not indicated for the treatment of HTG or VHTG because they are not approved by the FDA for this purpose.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The Friedewald equation assumes a constant triglycerides/cholesterol ratio of 5 in VLDL regardless of plasma triglyceride concentration.

    “The Friedewald equation assumes a constant triglycerides/cholesterol ratio of 5 in VLDL, regardless of the plasma triglyceride concentration.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    As total plasma triglyceride increases, the triglycerides carried by VLDL increase disproportionately to its cholesterol content.

    “As total plasma triglyceride increases, the triglycerides carried by VLDL increase disproportionately to its cholesterol content.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Patients with HTG may have delayed postprandial clearance of chylomicrons.

    “because patients with HTG (in addition to VHTG) may have delayed postprandial clearance of chylomicrons”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No published data directly compare fasting and nonfasting triglycerides in the same patients.

    “no published data directly compare fasting and nonfasting triglycerides in the same patients”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Standard reference ranges do not currently exist for nonfasting triglyceride values.

    “standard reference ranges do not currently exist for nonfasting triglyceride values”
15 of 15

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Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

2 of 2

Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Robinson, JG. Clinical Lipid Management. 1st ed. West Islip, NY: Professional Communications, Inc; 2016.

Cited by

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Metadata

Authors
Skulas-Ray, A. C., Wilson, P. W. F., Harris, W. S., Brinton, E. A., Kris-Etherton, P. M., Richter, C. K., Jacobson, T. A., Engler, M. B., Miller, M., Robinson, J. G., Blum, C. B., Rodriguez-Leyva, D., de Ferranti, S. D., Welty, F. K., & On behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Arteriosclerosis, T. A. V. B. C. O. L. A. C. H. C. O. C. D. I. T. Y. C. O. C. A. S. N. A. C. O. C. C.
Affiliations
  • United States Department of Health and Human Services (US)
  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (US)
Venue
Circulation
Published
2019-09-17
Volume
140
Issue
12
Pages
e673-e691
ISSN
  • 0009-7322 (ISSN-L)
  • 1524-4539
OpenAlex
W2969523838
Cited by
512
References
120
Citations by year
2026: 65 · 2025: 67 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 89 · 2022: 70 · 2021: 64 · 2020: 86 · 2019: 11
FWCI
43.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Circulation (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Lipid metabolism and disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
Keywords
omega-3 fatty acids, hypertriglyceridemia, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, triglyceride lowering, LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk, REDUCE-IT trial, statin combination therapy
MeSH terms
American Heart Association, Cardiovascular Diseases, Clinical Trials as Topic, Humans, Risk, Triglycerides, United States, Hypertriglyceridemia, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Atherosclerosis

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