Cholesterol and blood fats
Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA)and LDL cholesterol
All three sources here measured higher LDL cholesterol.
How sure anyone can be
Moderate certainty, level 3 of 4Further research may change this.
The most certain of the three findings here; each record carries its own.
The numbers reported
One source’s range, drawn against its own line of no difference and scaled to its own numbers.
0.0060.13 mmol/L0.253
This range stays on one side of the no-difference line.
Three sources, newest first
What we read is the published abstract, not the full paper, so a blank below may still be printed in the paper itself. A person went through the criteria and recorded which brought the rating down. Their reasons are not on record here.
Systematic review, 2020 · 1,137 participants
Moderate certainty, level 3 of 4Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid versus α-linolenic acid supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Chen H, Deng G, Zhou Q, Chu X, Su M, Wei Y, et al. Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid versus alpha-linolenic acid supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Food Funct. 2020;11(3):1919-1932. doi:10.1039/c9fo03052b. PMID:32175534.
- Number reported
- 0.13 mmol/L
- Which way it went
- Higher
- Likely range
- 0.006 to 0.253
- Source’s own words
- mmol/L LDL-C weighted mean difference versus ALA
- Who was studied
- Adult
- Compared with
- alpha linolenic acid
- Amount taken
- Not in the abstract
- For how long
- Not in the abstract
- Disagreement between studies
- Not in the abstract
- Kind of record
- Systematic review and meta-analysis
How this rating was reachedstarts at High, one step down: imprecision
- Starts at High
- Imprecision brought it down to ModerateThe reason for this step is not on record here.
- Ends at ModerateOne step down.
- Not written down for this rating
- risk of bias, indirectness and inconsistency
Imprecision stops at the first check that applies; others may apply too.
Signed & machine-rechecked — a person signed the exact source records, and the software re-derived this rating from them and got the same answer.
Randomised trial, 2016
Moderate certainty, level 3 of 4Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on cardiovascular disease risk factors: a randomized clinical trial.
Asztalos IB, Gleason JA, Sever S, Gedik R, Asztalos BF, Horvath KV, et al. Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on cardiovascular disease risk factors: a randomized clinical trial. Metabolism. 2016;65(11):1636-1645. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2016.07.010. PMID:27733252.
- Number reported
- 17.1 mg/dL
- Which way it went
- Higher
- Likely range
- Not in the abstract
- Source’s own words
- mg/dL LDL-C increase with DHA versus placebo
- Who was studied
- Adult
- Compared with
- olive oil placebo
- Amount taken
- Not in the abstract
- For how long
- Not in the abstract
- Disagreement between studies
- Not in the abstract
- Kind of record
- Randomised controlled trial
How this rating was reachedstarts at High, one step down: imprecision
- Starts at High
- Imprecision brought it down to ModerateThe reason for this step is not on record here.
- Ends at ModerateOne step down.
- Not written down for this rating
- risk of bias, indirectness and inconsistency
Imprecision stops at the first check that applies; others may apply too.
Signed & machine-rechecked — a person signed the exact source records, and the software re-derived this rating from them and got the same answer.
Systematic review, 2006
Moderate certainty, level 3 of 4Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on serum markers of cardiovascular disease risk: a systematic review.
Balk EM, Lichtenstein AH, Chung M, Kupelnick B, Chew P, Lau J. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on serum markers of cardiovascular disease risk: a systematic review. Atherosclerosis. 2006;189(1):19-30. doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2006.02.012. PMID:16530201.
- Number reported
- 6 mg/dL
- Which way it went
- Higher
- Likely range
- Not in the abstract
- Source’s own words
- mg/dL LDL-C net change
- Who was studied
- Adult
- Compared with
- control oils or usual diet
- Amount taken
- Not in the abstract
- For how long
- Not in the abstract
- Disagreement between studies
- Not in the abstract
- Kind of record
- Systematic review and meta-analysis
How this rating was reachedstarts at High, one step down: imprecision
- Starts at High
- Imprecision brought it down to ModerateThe reason for this step is not on record here.
- Ends at ModerateOne step down.
- Not written down for this rating
- risk of bias, indirectness and inconsistency
Imprecision stops at the first check that applies; others may apply too.
Signed & machine-rechecked — a person signed the exact source records, and the software re-derived this rating from them and got the same answer.
What is still missing from these readings
- Two give no likely range, so how precise those numbers are is unknown.
- Two do not say how many people took part.
- Amount taken — Not in the abstract.
- For how long — Not in the abstract.
Something nobody wrote down is never a zero and never a guess.
Still to read for Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA)
Seven of the 19 things on our list for Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) have no reading here yet:
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
- Cognitive performance
- Gestational length
- HDL cholesterol
- Heart rate variability (RMSSD)
- High-sensitivity CRP
- Resting heart rate
Still to read means nobody here has got to it, not that it was tried and did nothing or that no research exists. A pairing on no list is not a gap: we never set out to read it.
Read next
Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA)
11 other questions read for it
Cholesterol and blood fats
65 questions read under it
LDL cholesterol
19 other ingredients read against it
First six, alphabetical, and by nothing else. The rest are on Cholesterol and blood fats.
This is a library, not advice. No recommendation, no dose, no diagnosis, no ranking. We never ask about your symptoms, and nothing here is tailored to you.