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Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Feb 10;22(1):9.
doi: 10.1186/s12937-022-00826-5.

Effect of omega-3 supplementation on lipid profile in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Masoud Khorshidi  1   2 , Zohreh Sajadi Hazaveh  3 , Malek Alimohammadi-Kamalabadi  4 , Sanaz Jamshidi  2 , Omid Moradi Moghaddam  5 , Beheshteh Olang  1 , Sayeh Hatefi  1 , Amirhossein Hosseini  1 , Parsa Jamilian  6 , Meysam Zarezadeh  7   8 , Parichehr Kohansal  9 , Javad Heshmati  10 , Parmida Jamilian  11 , Aliakbar Sayyari  12   13
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Effect of omega-3 supplementation on lipid profile in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Masoud Khorshidi et al. Nutr J. .

Abstract

Purpose: Dyslipidemia is considered as a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Yet various trials with wide ranges of doses and durations have reported contradictory results. We undertook this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine whether omega-3 supplementation can affect lipid profile in children and adolescents.

Methods: Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched up to March 2021. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effect method. Effect size was expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 index. In order to identification of potential sources of heterogeneity, predefined subgroup and meta-regression analysis was conducted.

Results: A total of 14 RCTs with 15 data sets were included. Based on the combination of effect sizes, there was a significant reduction in TG levels (WMD: -15.71 mg/dl, 95% CI: -25.76 to -5.65, P=0.002), with remarkable heterogeneity (I2=88.3%, P<0.001). However, subgroup analysis revealed that omega-3 supplementation significantly decreased TG only in studies conducted on participants ≤13 years old (WMD=-25.09, 95% CI: -43.29 to -6.90, P=0.007), (I2=84.6%, P<0.001) and those with hypertriglyceridemia (WMD=-28.26, 95% CI: -39.12 to -17.41, P<0.001), (I2=0.0%, P=0.934). Omega-3 supplementation had no significant effect on total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL levels. Also, results of nonlinear analysis showed significant effect of treatment duration on HDL status (Pnon-linearity=0.047).

Conclusion: Omega-3 supplementation may significantly reduce TG levels in younger children and those with hypertriglyceridemia. Also, based on the HDL-related results, clinical trials with longer duration of intervention are recommended in this population.

Keywords: Children; Lipid profile; Meta-analysis; Omega-3; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of the review progress
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Assessment of quality of studies by the Cochrane Collaboration's tool
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forest plot detailing WMD and 95% CIs for the effect of omega-3 supplementation on TG
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Forest plot detailing WMD and 95% CIs for the effect of omega-3 supplementation on LDL
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Forest plot detailing WMD and 95% CIs for the effect of omega-3 supplementation on HDL
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Forest plot detailing WMD and 95% CIs for the effect of omega-3 supplementation on TC
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Dose-response relations between omega-3 duration of treatment (mg/d) and mean difference in TG, LDL, HDL, and TC
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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