Recent findings on the health effects of omega-3 fatty acids and statins, and their interactions: do statins inhibit omega-3?

Abstract

Early randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrated the health benefits of omega-3 fatty
acids (n-3), whereas recent RCTs were negative. We now address the issue, focusing on the
temporal changes having occurred: most patients in recent RCTs are no longer n-3 deficient
and the vast majority are now treated with statins. Recent RCTs testing n-3 against
arrhythmias suggest that n-3 reduce the risk only in patients not taking a statin. Other recent
RCTs in secondary prevention were negative although, in a post-hoc analysis separating
statin users and non-users, non-significant protection of n-3 was observed among statin nonusers
whereas statin users had no effect. Recent RCTs testing statins – after the
implementation of the New Clinical Trial Regulation in 2007 – are negative (or flawed)
suggesting that the lack of effect of n-3 cannot be attributed to a parallel protection by statins.
Finally, statins favor the metabolism of omega-6 fatty acids (n-6), which in turn inhibits n-3
and, contrary to n-3, they increase insulin resistance and the risk of diabetes.Thus, n-3 and
statins are counteractive at several levels and statins appear to inhibit n-3.

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Graham