Omega-3 and vitamin D supplements tied with lesser hospitalizations in HF patients

The primary aim was to evaluate whether prevalent type 2 diabetes (T2D) modifies the effects of omega-3 supplementation on heart failure (HF) hospitalization. The secondary aim was to examine if race modifies the effects of omega-3 supplements on heart failure (HF) risk.

It is unclear whether race and type 2 diabetes (T2D) modify the effects of omega-3 supplementation on the incidence of HF. In this ancillary study of the parent VITAL (Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial)—a completed randomized trial testing the efficacy of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular diseases and cancer, we assessed the role of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and race on the effects of omega-3 supplements on the incidence of heart failure (HF) hospitalization (adjudicated by a review of medical records and supplemented with a query of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data).

The results of the study are:

• When omega-3 supplements were compared with placebo, the HR for first HF hospitalization was 0.69 in participants with prevalent type 2 diabetes (T2D) and 1.09 in those without type 2 diabetes (T2D)
• Furthermore, prevalent type 2 diabetes (T2D) modified the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the incidence of recurrent heart failure (HF) hospitalization
• In their secondary analysis, omega-3 supplementation reduced recurrent heart failure hospitalization only in Black participants

Thus, the data show beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplements on the incidence of heart failure (HF) hospitalization in participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) but not in those without type 2 diabetes (T2D), and such benefit appeared to be stronger in Black participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Reference:

Diabetes Mellitus, Race, and Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Incidence of Heart Failure Hospitalization by Luc Djoussé et. al published in the JACC: Heart Failure.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2213177922000543?via=ihub