Omega-3 Supplementation Not Protective for Heart Patients

Heart patients who supplement with omega-3 fatty acids in addition to standard drug therapy show no reduction in recurring cardiovascular events, according to a new study. As part of the Alpha Omega Trial, Dutch researchers followed 4,837 patients between the ages of 60 and 80 who had suffered from heart damage up to ten years prior to the study. Participants were given one of four margarines to consume over a 40-month period. Three of the margarines contained omega-3 fatty acids in the forms ALA, EPA-DHA, and EPA-DHA and ALA, and the fourth was a placebo. No significant benefit was seen among the groups.