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# Fish oil helps prevent cardiovascular events in myocardial infarction patients
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/fish_oil_myocardial_infarction_082620121240/
- Published: 2012-08-26T13:38:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:44:35.000Z
- Description: In the Alpha Omega Trial, statin users with a prior heart attack got no cardiovascular benefit from 400 mg of EPA plus DHA daily. Among the 413 patients consistently not on statins, 9 percent of those given omega-3s plus ALA had a major cardiovascular event.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Sunday Aug 26, 2012 ([foodconsumer.org](http://www.foodconsumer.org/)) -- A new study in European Heart Journal confirms that fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the odds of cardiovascular events in patients with a history of myocardial infarction even though they may not be as potent as statins.

Fish oil, which is high in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), has been known to be able to lower plasma triglyceride levels and because of this it may prevent heat disease. But some studies failed to find evidence suggesting that taking fish oil or omega 3 supplements can reduce cardiovascular events in patients with a history of myocardial infarction.

Simone R.B.M. Eussen of Utrecht University in TB Utrecht, The Netherlands and colleagues reasoned that recent secondary prevention trials failed to demonstrate the beneficial effect of n-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular events maybe because of the growing use of statins, which are known to be very effective in lowering cholesterol and preventing heart disease in those who have prior heart conditions.

In the Alpha Omega Trial, 3740 patients with history of suffering myocardial infarction were using stains consistently and 413 patients were consistently not using statins. In these two groups of patients, the effects of daily supplementation with 400 mg EPA plus DHA, 2 grams of α-linolenic acid (ALA), or both on major cardiovascular events were assessed.

Of the statin users, 13 percent of the myocardial infarction patients experienced a major cardiovascular events, compared to 15 percent of the non-statin users. Among the statin users, using omega 3 fatty acids was not associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular events whereas among non statin users, only 9 percent of those who received the omega 3 fatty acids plus ALA developed a major cardiovascular event, compared to 18 percent in the placebo group who did not use either statins nor omega-3 fatty acids.

The researchers concluded "In patients with a history of MI (myocardial infarction) who are not treated with statins, low-dose supplementation with n-3 fatty acids may reduce major cardiovascular events" and "statin treatment modifies the effects of n-3 fatty acids on the incidence of major cardiovascular events."

Myocardial infarction or heart attack is a major killer in the United States. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute states that "Lowering your risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) can help you prevent a heart attack."