Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Marine lipids, particularly omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in fish oil, have been studied for their role in supporting and treating congestive heart failure (CHF). Several clinical trials and meta-analyses have explored their effects on cardiovascular outcomes. Notably, the GISSI-HF (Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto Miocardico–Heart Failure) trial, a large, randomized, placebo-controlled study, demonstrated that supplementation with 1 gram/day of omega-3 PUFAs led to a modest but statistically significant reduction in all-cause mortality and hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons in patients with chronic heart failure. The putative mechanisms include anti-inflammatory effects, anti-arrhythmic properties, and improvements in endothelial function and cardiac remodeling.

Despite these findings, the degree of benefit is considered modest, and guidelines such as those from the American Heart Association suggest that while omega-3 supplementation may be considered as adjunctive therapy in heart failure, it does not replace standard pharmacological treatments. Evidence quality ranges from moderate to high for surrogate endpoints (like triglyceride reduction or inflammation markers), but only moderate for hard clinical outcomes like mortality or hospitalization. As such, marine lipids are scientifically validated as a supportive, not primary, therapy for CHF, with a rating of 3/5 for the strength of evidence supporting their use in this context.

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