Table 1.
Characteristics of trials and cohort studies on effects of omega 3 fats on mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer
| Criteria | Randomised controlled trials | Cohorts |
|---|---|---|
| Studies and participants | ||
| No of participants | 36 913 | 563 218, plus two where the size not described |
| No of studies | 48 | 47 published analyses from 26 |
| No of large studies | 8 (>500 participants) | 10 (>20 000 participants) |
| Follow-up | 0.5 to >∼6 years | 4 to 25 years |
| Risk of CVD | ||
| Have CVD | 21 | 2 |
| Moderate risk | 10 | 2 |
| Low risk | 17 | 22 |
| Sex | ||
| ≥70% men | 24 | 14 |
| 31% to 69% men | 17 | 4 |
| ≤30% men | 5 | 7 |
| Not stated | 2 | 1 |
| Main outcome* | ||
| CVD or mortality | 32 | 13 |
| Cancer | 0 | 10 |
| Other outcomes | 16 | 10 |
*
Several cohorts appear to have more than one main outcome.