Prescription omega-3 fatty acid products: considerations for patients with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome contribute to hypertriglyceridemia, which may increase residual risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with elevated triglyceride (TG) levels despite optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels with statin therapy. Prescription products containing the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (OM3FAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are an effective strategy for reducing TG levels. This article provides an overview of prescription OM3FAs, including relevant clinical data in patients with T2DM and/or metabolic syndrome. Prescription OM3FAs contain either combinations of DHA and EPA (omega-3-acid ethyl esters, omega-3-carboxylic acids, omega-3-acid ethyl esters A) or EPA alone (icosapent ethyl). These products are well tolerated and can be used safely with statins. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that all prescription OM3FAs produce statistically significant reductions in TG levels compared with placebo; however, differential effects on LDL-C levels have been reported. Products containing DHA may increase LDL-C levels, whereas the EPA-only product did not increase LDL-C levels compared with placebo. Because increases in LDL-C levels may be unwanted in patients with T2DM and/or dyslipidemia, the EPA-only product should not be replaced with products containing DHA. Available data on the effects of OM3FAs in patients with diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome support that these products can be used safely in patients with T2DM and have beneficial effects on atherogenic parameters; in particular, the EPA-only prescription product significantly reduced TG, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, Apo B, remnant lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-sensitivity CRP levels without increasing LDL-C levels compared with placebo. Ongoing studies of the effects of prescription OM3FAs on cardiovascular outcomes will help determine whether these products will emerge as effective add-on options to statin therapy for reduction of residual cardiovascular disease risk.

Introduction

Metabolic syndrome is prevalent worldwide and is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).¹ Patients with T2DM and/or metabolic syndrome have a substantially elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).^2,3 In addition, both T2DM and metabolic syndrome are known contributors to hypertriglyceridemia, which is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor for CVD.^4,5

Even with optimized statin therapy (ie, achieving target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] levels), patients may continue to have elevated levels of other atherogenic parameters such as Apo B and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), which, along with elevated triglyceride (TG) levels, may contribute to an increased residual risk for CVD.^5–7 Addressing this residual risk represents a major health care challenge.⁸

Prescription products containing the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (OM3FAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are an effective strategy for reducing TG levels in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.^9–15 This review provides a comparative overview of approved prescription OM3FAs and discusses clinical data in patients with T2DM and/or metabolic syndrome.

Overview of endocrine/diabetes recommendations on use of prescription OM3FAs

Several leading endocrine and/or diabetes organizations recognize the important role of prescription OM3FAs in the treatment of patients with moderate to severely elevated TG levels, as reflected in their treatment recommendations (Table 1).^4,16–19 The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology Clinical Guidelines for Developing a Diabetes Mellitus Comprehensive Care Plan^16,17 contain specific recommendations regarding the use of prescription OM3FAs in patients with diabetes, including use in the setting of residual risk. High-dose prescription OM3FAs are recognized as an effective option for lowering TG levels in patients with TG levels ≥500 mg/dL¹⁶ and high-dose OM3FAs have been recommended for achieving target non-HDL-C levels in patients with TG levels ≥200 mg/dL and HDL-C levels <35 mg/dL or in patients with persistently elevated fasting TG levels >200 mg/dL despite maximally tolerated LDL-C-lowering therapies.¹⁷ In addition, the International Diabetes Federation Global Guideline for Type 2 Diabetes recommends that patients with T2DM unable to achieve lipid-lowering targets with or are intolerant of conventional medications (statins or fenofibrate) should be considered as candidates for other medications for dyslipidemia, including high-dose OM3FAs.¹⁹ The 2012 Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline on evaluation and treatment of hypertriglyceridemia, though not specific to patients with T2DM, recommends that drug therapies such as fibrates, niacin, or OM3FAs (alone or in combination with statins) be considered for treatment of moderate to severe TG levels.⁴ The American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2016 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes recommends that statin therapy be considered for all patients with diabetes (with high- intensity statins recommended for those with overt CVD or with greater CVD risk), and although the consumption of foods containing long-chain OM3FAs is recommended, there is no evidence to support the use of OM3FA supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular risk.¹⁸

Table 1.

Overview of endocrine/diabetes recommendations on use of prescription OM3FAs

Association/Society	Year	Target population	Recommendation(s)
AACE/ACE16,17	2015, 2016	Diabetes	Prescription OM3FAs, fibrates, or niacin may also be used to reduce TG levels that are >500 mg/dL. In patients who have LDL-C levels at goal but TG concentrations ≥200 mg/dL and low HDL-C (<35 mg/dL), treatment protocols that include fibrates, niacin, or high-dose OM3FAs may be used to achieve the non-HDL-C goal. In the setting of persistently elevated fasting TG levels (>200 mg/dL) against the background of maximally tolerated LDL-C-lowering therapies, TG-reducing therapies such as fibrates, high-dose OM3FAs, or niacin may be utilized to further reduce non-HDL-C.
ADA18	2016	Diabetes	No mention of recommendations regarding prescription OM3FAs. Evidence does not support recommending OM3FA supplements for people with diabetes for the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular events.a
IDF19	2012	Diabetes	Consider other medications for dyslipidemia (bile acid binding resins, ezetimibe, sustained-release nicotinic acid, concentrated OM3FAs) in patients failing to reach lipid-lowering targets or intolerant of conventional medications.
Endocrine Society4	2012	General	Suggest that three drug classes (fibrates, niacin, OM3FAs) alone or in combination with statins be considered as treatment options in patients with TG levels ≥200–1,999 mg/dL.

Note:

^aThe ADA guidelines do not discuss the role of prescription OM3FAs in patients with diabetes.

Abbreviations: AACE, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists; ACE, American College of Endocrinology; ADA, American Diabetes Association; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; IDF, International Diabetes Federation; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; OM3FAs, omega-3 fatty acids; TG, triglyceride.

Prescription OM3FA products

A summary of the OM3FAs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is provided in Table 2.^14,20–24 All prescription OM3FAs are indicated as an adjunct to diet to reduce TG levels in adult patients with severe (≥500 mg/dL) hypertriglyceridemia.^21–24 Only one prescription product, icosapent ethyl (Vascepa^®; Amarin Pharma Inc., Bedmin-ster, NJ, USA), contains only high-purity EPA. The other prescription products contain both DHA and EPA and include omega-3-acid ethyl esters (Lovaza^®; GlaxoSmithKline, plc, London, UK), generic omega-3-acid ethyl esters, omega-3-carboxylic acids (Epanova^®; AstraZeneca plc, London, UK), and omega-3-acid ethyl esters A (Omtryg^™; Trygg Pharma, Inc., Arlington, VA, USA).

Table 2.

Overview of FDA-approved prescription OM3FAs

Indication (all): adjunct to diet to reduce TG levels in adult patients with severe (≥500 mg/dL) hypertriglyceridemia
Prescription product	Omega-3-acid ethyl esters20,21,a	Icosapent ethyl22	Omega-3-carboxylic acids14,23,b	Omega-3-acid ethyl esters A24,b
OM3FA content (in each capsulec)	≥0.9 g OM3FA ethyl esters from fish oils  EPA ~0.465g  DHA ~0.375 g	1 g icosapent ethyl  EPA 1 g	≥0.85 g OM3 carboxylic acids from fishoils  EPA 0.55g  DHA 0.2 g	≥0.9 g OM3FA ethyl esters from fish oils  EPA ~0.465 g  DHA ~0.375 g
Total daily dose	4 g	4 g	2 or 4 g	4 g
Dosing schedule	4 capsules QD or 2 capsules BID Can be taken without regard to meals	2 capsules BID Should be taken with meals	4 capsules QD or 2 capsules QD Can be taken without regard to meals	4 capsules QD or 2 capsules BID Should be taken with meals
AE profiled	Eructation, dyspepsia, taste perversion	Arthralgia	Diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, eructation	Eructation, dyspepsia, taste perversion

Notes:

^aGeneric prescription products are available.

^bApproved but not commercially available at the time of writing this paper.

^cOmega-3-acid ethyl esters, icosapent ethyl, and omega-3-carboxylic acids have 1 g capsules; the omega-3-acid ethyl esters A capsule is 1.2 g.

^dMost common AEs as noted in product labeling: omega-3-acid ethyl esters and omega-3-acid ethyl esters A have identical safety data and AEs listed are those with an incidence ≥3% and greater than placebo; icosapent ethyl AEs are those with incidence >2% and greater than placebo; omega-3-carboxylic acids AEs are those for patients receiving 4 g with an incidence ≥3% and greater than placebo.

Abbreviations: AE, adverse event; BID, twice daily; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; FDA, United States Food and Drug Administration; OM3, omega-3; OM3FA, omega-3 fatty acid; QD, once daily; TG, triglyceride.

Safety/tolerability

As a therapeutic class, prescription OM3FAs have a well-established safety profile and are generally well tolerated.^21–24 In the clinical studies that supported their respective FDA approvals, gastrointestinal adverse events were seen more frequently with products containing DHA (omega-3-acid ethyl esters, omega-3-acid ethyl esters A, and omega-3-carboxylic acids) compared with the EPA-only product (icosapent ethyl) (Table 2).^{12,13,21–24} Two recent systematic reviews and a meta-analysis seem to support that OM3FAs can be used safely in patients with T2DM, with no significant changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, insulin sensitivity, body weight, or impairment of glucose metabolism.^25–27 A sub-analysis of patients with diabetes (n=513) from the ANCHOR study, which assessed the efficacy and safety of icosapent ethyl in statin-treated patients at high cardiovascular risk with well-controlled LDL-C and residually high TG levels (≥200 and <500 mg/dl), supports these conclusions.^13,28 Compared with placebo, no significant increases in fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, insulin, or homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance were found in patients with diabetes treated with icosapent ethyl 4 g/day over a 12-week study period.²⁸

The favorable safety and tolerability profile of prescription OM3FAs as a class is an important consideration when selecting treatment, especially given that use of other TG-lowering drug classes (ie, fibrates, niacin) may be limited by side effects. Both fibrates and niacin have been associated with an increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, especially when used in combination with statins.^29–33 In contrast, prescription OM3FAs have not been associated with increased risk of myopathy when used alone or in combination with statins.^21–24 Tolerability is a common issue with niacin due to flushing episodes, which have been reported to occur in ≥75% of patients.^33,34 A particular concern for patients who have or are at risk for diabetes is that niacin can increase serum glucose levels; thus, it is recommended that glucose levels be monitored closely in such patients.³³ Finally, in some patients with high and very high TG levels, fibrates have been associated with significant LDL-C increases or attenuation of LDL-C reduction effects of statins.^30,35–38 Of note, in April 2015, the labeling for both fenofibric acid (Trilipix, AbbVie, Inc., North Chicago, IL, USA) and niacin extended release (Niaspan, AbbVie, Inc.) was revised to remove any wording related to indication/dosing in combi nation with statins due to a lack of clinical evidence for cardiovascular benefit as adjuncts to statin therapy.^32,33

Drug interactions

No drug-drug interaction concerns have been raised with prescription OM3FAs. An investigation of co-administration of icosapent ethyl with the oral antidiabetes agent rosiglita-zone did not identify a drug-drug interaction for this combination.^22,39 In other investigations, no drug-drug interactions were identified between icosapent ethyl and atorvastatin,⁴⁰ warfarin,⁴¹ or omeprazole⁴² or between omega-3-acid ethyl esters and simvastatin,⁴³ rosuvastatin,⁴⁴ or atorvastatin.⁴⁵ However, patients receiving treatment with prescription OM3FAs in addition to other drugs affecting coagulation should be monitored periodically.^21–24 This is because prolongation of bleeding time has been reported in some published studies of OM3FAs, although bleeding time was still within normal limits and did not cause clinically significant bleeding episodes.^21–24 Notably, evidence-based reviews have supported a lack of effect of OM3FAs on clinically significant bleeding, even in patients taking medications that affect coagulation.^46–48

Distinctions between prescription OM3FAs and fish oil dietary supplements

Fish oil dietary supplements are widely available and commonly used by consumers; however, there are critical distinctions between these dietary supplements and the FDA-approved OM3FA drugs that can be obtained only by prescription. Notably, although fish oil dietary supplements can be purchased without a prescription, they are not over-the-counter (OTC) drugs; in fact, there are no approved OTC OM3FA products in the USA. In stark contrast to prescription and OTC drugs/medications, which are subject to rigorous regulatory standards, OM3FA dietary supplements may contain inconsistent EPA and DHA quantities and be of variable quality.^49–55 A recent study evaluating OMFA3 content and oxidative markers in fish oil dietary supplements in New Zealand found that 83% of supplements exceeded the recommended peroxide level.⁵³ Importantly, dietary supplements are not required to demonstrate the safety or efficacy of their ingredients prior to marketing and are considered safe until proven otherwise.^51,56–58 In contrast, prescription OM3FA products are highly purified, subject to quality control regulations, and required to demonstrate both safety and efficacy in clinical studies to achieve approval by the FDA. Another distinction is that fish oil dietary supplements may require a high pill burden to achieve prescription-strength doses⁵⁹ while the pill count is a maximum of four capsules/day for the prescription products. It is also worth noting that OM3FA dietary supplementation at doses of 1 g/day did not reduce the rate of cardiovascular events in high-risk patients.⁶⁰ Indeed, both the International Atherosclerosis Society and the ADA have moved away from recommending the use of OM3FA dietary supplements for the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular events.^61,62 Given these concerns related to efficacy, quality, and safety of dietary supplements, these products should not be considered appropriate substitutes for prescription OM3FA products in patients who require TG-lowering treatment.

Key prescription OM3FA clinical studies

A summary of key clinical studies of prescription OM3FAs in patients with very high TG levels (with or without statin therapy) or high TG levels (with statin therapy), is provided in Table 3.

Table 3.

Summary of randomized placebo-controlled clinical studies of prescription OM3FAs

Prescription OM3FA product	Study	TG levela	Concomitant statin use	Proportion of patients with diabetes	N	Effects of 4 g/day prescription OM3FA on atherogenic parameters (difference vs placebo)
						Parameter	Baseline (mg/dL)	Change (%)	P-value
Omega-3-acid ethyl esters	Pooled pivotal studies9,10,21	Very high	NR	NR	84	TGb	816	−51.6c	≤0.05d
						LDL-Cb	89	+49.3	≤0.05d
						Apo Bb	NR	NR	NR
						Non-HDL-Cb	271	−10.2	NR
						hsCRPb	NR	NR	NR
	COMBOS11,20	High	All patients	NR	254	TG	268	−23.2e	<0.0001
						LDL-C	91	+3.5e	0.05
						Apo B	86	−2.3e	<0.05
						Non-HDL-C	137	−6.8e	<0.0001
						hsCRP	NR	NR	NR
Icosapent ethyl	MARINE12,22,69	Very high	25%	28%	229	TG	680	−33.1	<0.0001
						LDL-C	91	−2.3	NSd
						Apo B	121	−8.5	<0.01
						Non-HDL-C	225	−17.7	<0.0001d
						hsCRP	0.22	−36.0	0.0005
	ANCHOR13	High	All patients	73%	702	TG	265	−21.5	<0.0001
						LDL-C	82	−6.2	<0.01
						Apo B	93	−9.3	<0.0001
						Non-HDL-C	128	−13.6	<0.0001
						hsCRP	0.22	−22.0	0.0005
Omega-3-carboxylic acids	EVOLVE14,23	Very high	34%–35%f,g	30%–45%f	399	TG	655	−21	<0.001
						LDL-C	90	+15	<0.001d
						Apo B	118	+2	NSd
						Non-HDL-C	225	−10	<0.01
						hsCRP	0.23h	−0.3	NS
	ESPRIT15	High	All patients	69%–74%f	647	% differences vs placebo not reported; within-group least squares geometric mean changes were reported for TG (−21%), total cholesterol (−3.8%), non-HDL-C (−6.9%), Apo B (−2.1%) (all statistically significant vs placebo), and LDL-C (+1.3%; NS)
Omega-3-acid ethyl esters A	Available only in prescribing information;24 not published elsewhere; no data available in patients with high TG	Very high	21%	NR	254	TG	702	−12.2	<0.05
						LDL-C	237	+24.7	<0.01
						Apo B	NR	NR	NR
						Non-HDL-C	237	−8.5	NR
						hsCRP	NR	NR	NR

Notes:

^aVery high TG level defined as ≥500 and ≤2,000 mg/dL in the icosapent ethyl and omega-3-acid ethyl esters studies, ≥500 and <2,000 mg/dL for omega-3-carboxylic acids study, and ≥500 and ≤1,500 mg/dL for omega-3-acid ethyl esters A; high TG level defined as ≥200 and <500 mg/dL in all studies.

^bData pooled from Harris et al and Pownall et al and reported in prescribing information.⁹,¹⁰,²¹

^cHigh baseline TG levels in these pooled studies (816 mg/dL) contributed to greater TG reduction relative to that observed in other studies of prescription OM3FAs.

^dP-value not reported in product labeling but available in corresponding publication(s).

^ePercent changes vs placebo not reported in the COMBOS publication¹¹ but reported in 2013 version of the omega-3-acid ethyl esters product prescribing information.²⁰

^FRange across all treatment arms.

^gPercentage reflects use of statins, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, or a combination of these products.

^hPercentage differences vs placebo not reported; values represent absolute least square geometric mean change from baseline.

Abbreviations: Apo B, apolipoprotein B; hsCRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; OM3FA, omega-3 fatty acid; non-HDL-C, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; NR, not reported; NS, not statistically significant (P≥0.05); TG, triglyceride.

TG-lowering effects

In randomized placebo-controlled clinical studies, all prescription OM3FAs have demonstrated statistically significant reductions in TG levels compared with placebo (Table 3).^{9–15,21,23,24} TG reductions were also statistically significant in patients treated with prescription OM3FAs in combination with statins.^11,13,15 It has been consistently shown that higher baseline TG levels are associated with a greater degree of TG reduction.^12,63,64 This relationship between baseline TG level and observed TG reduction helps explain the range of TG lowering observed among the studies of prescription OM3FAs in patients with very high TG levels (Table 3). Greater reductions in TG levels reported in the omega-3-acid ethyl esters prescribing information may be attributable to baseline TG levels that were more than 100 mg/dL higher in those studies in comparison with baseline TG levels in studies of other prescription OM3FAs (Table 3). In a head-to-head study of omega-3-acid ethyl esters and omega-3-acid ethyl esters A (Table 4),⁶⁵ the baseline TG level was 655 mg/dL in the omega-3-acid ethyl esters group. This was lower than the baseline TG level in the pivotal omega-3-acid ethyl esters data shown in Table 3, and was more in line with the baseline TG levels in the studies of the other OM3FA products. Accordingly, the TG reductions observed for the omega-3-acid ethyl esters group in the head-to-head study were similar to those reported for the other OM3FAs (Tables 3 and 4).

Table 4.

Head-to-head comparison of the lipid effects of omega-3-acid ethyl esters vs omega-3-acid ethyl esters A in a 12-week double-blind study in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia

Median percent change in lipid parameters	Omega-3-acid ethyl esters A (n=104)	Omega-3-acid ethyl esters (n=103)	Placebo (n=43)	Median difference: omega-3-acid ethyl esters A vs placebo	P-value (omega-3-acid ethyl esters A vs placebo)
TG	−24.7%	−26.8%	−17.4%	−12.2	0.0412
LDL-C	+20.3%	+12.8%	−5.9%	+24.7	0.0002
Non-HDL-C	−9.2%	−3.6%	−0.8%	−8.5	0.0258
VLDL-C	−21.2%	−18.1%	+5.6%	−28.7	0.0008
Apo B	+3.8%	+5.3%	0%	+3.2	0.2088
HDL-C	0%	0%	0%	+3.6	0.3502
TC	−8.1%	−1.0%	−0.8%	−6.9	0.0331

Note: Data from US Food and Drug Administration. Omtryg Medical Reviews. Food and Drug Administration; 2014. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Available from: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2014/204977Orig1s000MedR.pdf. Accessed March 2, 2016.⁶⁵

Abbreviations: Apo B, apolipoprotein B; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; non-HDL-C, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride; VLDL-C, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Effects on LDL-C and other parameters

Differential effects on LDL-C levels have been demonstrated in clinical trials of prescription OM3FAs when compared with placebo: treatment with products containing both EPA and DHA (omega-3-acid ethyl esters, omega-3-carboxylic acids, omega-3-acid ethyl esters A) resulted in increased median LDL-C levels, whereas treatment with EPA alone (icosapent ethyl) resulted in a minimal reduction or neutral effect on LDL-C levels (Table 3).^{9,10,12–14,21–24} The LDL-C increase may be attributed to DHA: in a pooled analysis and systematic review of EPA vs DHA alone, DHA was found to increase LDL-C compared with placebo while EPA was found to minimally affect LDL-C.^63,66 In a preclinical animal study, DHA but not EPA, was found to significantly decrease hepatic LDL receptor expression and increase plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity; recent data suggest that the LDL receptor gene may be downregulated by DHA.^67,68 DHA may also affect LDL-C levels via increased conversion of very-low-density lipoprotein to LDL and increased LDL particle size.⁶³ Additionally, based on hamster data, the clearance of these LDL particles may be reduced as a result of decreased hepatic expression of LDL by DHA.⁶⁷

Reductions in non-HDL-C levels have been reported for all prescription OM3FAs compared with placebo (Table 3).^12,21,23,24 In addition, significant reductions in Apo B and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) have been reported with icosapent ethyl compared with placebo (Table 3).^12,69 However, in clinical studies of patients with very high TG levels who were given DHA-containing OM3FA prescription products, Apo B levels were found to increase (Tables 3 and 4).^23,65

Plasma OM3FA levels

Although direct comparisons of plasma OM3FA levels achieved in patients with elevated TG levels are not available, data from the individual clinical studies of icosapent ethyl and omega-3-carboxylic acids suggest that the end-of-treatment plasma EPA concentration achieved with icosapent ethyl 4 g/day is comparable to the total concentration of OM3FA (EPA+DHA) achieved with omega-3-carboxylic acids 4 g/day.^15,70

Prescription OM3FA considerations for endocrinologists/diabetologists

Clinical data in diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome

Studies of prescription OM3FAs in subgroups of patients with diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome have been published for the prescription EPA-only product (icosapent ethyl) and demon strate beneficial effects on atherogenic parameters. In the sub-analysis of patients with T2DM from the ANCHOR study involving more than 500 patients, icosapent ethyl 4 g/day significantly reduced TG levels (−23.2%; P<0.0001) without raising LDL-C levels (−6.3; P=0.02) at 12 weeks compared with placebo.²⁸ Significant reductions were also observed in levels of non-HDL-C (−14.4%; P<0.0001) and Apo B (−9.5%; P<0.0001) as well as hsCRP (−21.5%; P<0.01) compared with placebo.²⁸ A subgroup analysis examining patients with metabolic syndrome (n=849) who had participated in the ANCHOR and MARINE studies (the latter investigating the efficacy and safety of icosapent ethyl in reducing TG levels and other lipid parameters in patients with very high TG levels [≥500 mg/dL]) reported similar findings.⁷¹ At 12 weeks, patients treated with icosapent ethyl 4 g/day who had metabolic syndrome in the ANCHOR study (n=211; all patients on stable statin therapy) had significant reductions in levels of TG (median percentage change from baseline of −21.7%; P<0.0001), non-HDL-C (−13.5; P<0.0001), Apo B (−8.8%; P<0.0001), and hsCRP (−23.0%; P<0.001) compared with placebo, without increasing LDL-C levels (−5.2%; P<0.05).⁷¹ Among patients treated with icosapent ethyl 4 g/day who had metabolic syndrome in the MARINE study (n=65), at 12 weeks, significant reductions were demonstrated in levels of TG (−35.0%; P<0.0001), non-HDL-C (−19.9%; P<0.0001), Apo B (−9.1%; P<0.01), and hsCRP (−40.0%; P<0.001) compared with placebo, again without increasing LDL-C levels (−3.2%; P<0.05); significant improvements were observed in patients both with and without concomitant statin therapy.

A “real-world” perspective on the use of prescription OM3FAs can be gained from a recent retrospective case series (n=10) of patients with diabetes or prediabetes in our private endocrinology practice.⁷² The impact of switching from a prescription OM3FA containing a combination of DHA and EPA (omega-3-acid ethyl esters) to the EPA-only prescription product (icosapent ethyl) was assessed. Patients had been switched because of compliance issues caused by gastrointestinal side effects and fishy eructation experienced with the EPA+DHA formulation; the EPA-only formulation offered the potential for fewer gastrointestinal effects with no adverse effects on LDL-C levels. The EPA-only formulation was well tolerated, and the majority (8/10) of patients experienced decreased or stable TG levels and decreased non-HDL-C, LDL-C, and total cholesterol levels.

Impact on cardiovascular outcomes

Prescription OM3FAs may be an important add-on therapy to statins for the reduction of residual CVD risk. Although the results of trials assessing the impact of OM3FAs for CVD risk reduction have been inconsistent, such studies completed to date have evaluated relatively low doses (typically 1–2 g/day) and did not necessarily target patients needing TG reduction; thus, they may not provide an accurate gauge of the potential benefits of prescription OM3FAs (at approved doses) in appropriate patient populations.^73,74 However, the JELIS study demonstrated that high-purity prescription EPA 1.8 g/day as add-on to statin therapy reduced the relative risk of major coronary events (primary endpoint) by 19% compared with statin therapy alone (P=0.011) in a Japanese population with hypercholesterolemia; the 1.8 g/day dosage of EPA was considered to be therapeutic in this population with high baseline fish intake.⁷⁵ In a subgroup analysis of the JELIS study, patients with abnormal TG and HDL-C levels (TG ≥150 mg/dL; HDL-C <40 mg/dL) had a significantly higher risk for major coronary events (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–2.64; P=0.014) compared with patients with normal TG and HDL-C levels; in this higher-risk group, EPA treatment reduced the risk of major coronary events by 53% (HR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.23–0.98; P=0.043).⁷⁶

Cardiovascular outcomes data for OM3FAs in patients with diabetes or at risk for diabetes are limited. Of interest, a subgroup analysis of JELIS focusing on patients with impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) found that patients with IGM had increased cardiovascular risk compared with normoglycemic patients, and that EPA treatment reduced cardio vascular risk in patients with IGM.⁷⁷ In contrast, the ORIGIN trial found that EPA+DHA treatment did not reduce death from cardiovascular causes over 6 years in patients with dysglycemia (ie, T2DM, impaired glucose tolerance, or impaired fasting glucose) and additional cardiovascular risk factors. However, it may be worth noting that the OM3FA dose (of both EPA and DHA) assessed was only 1 g/day in the ORIGIN study.⁶⁰ Presently, the ADA does not recommend OM3FA supplements to treat or prevent CVD in patients with diabetes.¹⁸ An ongoing cardiovascular outcomes study of patients with diabetes, ASCEND (NCT00135226), will assess whether an EPA+DHA formulation plus aspirin 100 mg can prevent serious vascular events in patients with diabetes; however, the dose of OM3FA is again only 1 g/day.⁷⁸

Two additional ongoing studies are evaluating the effects of prescription-strength doses of OM3FAs on cardio vascular outcomes in patients at high risk for CVD.^79,80 While these trials are not focused on patients with diabetes per se, they will include patients with T2DM and the results will help establish whether prescription OM3FAs are able to reduce residual cardiovascular risk. The STRENGTH study (NCT02104817) will evaluate the impact of omega-3-carboxylic acids plus a statin on cardiovascular outcomes.⁷⁹ The REDUCE-IT study (NCT01492361) will evaluate the impact of adding the EPA-only formulation (icosapent ethyl, 4 g/day) to statin therapy on cardiovascular outcomes.⁸⁰

Additional considerations

There is an urgent need for reduction of residual CVD risk in patients with T2DM and/or metabolic syndrome. Prescription OM3FAs are an effective treatment strategy that may help meet this “call to action”. Several clinical practice guidelines recognize the role of prescription OM3FAs in patients who require TG reduction despite controlled LDL-C with statin therapy, and available data in patients with T2DM and/or metabolic syndrome are promising for the EPA-only product, icosapent ethyl. In addition, given their well-characterized safety profiles, prescription OM3FAs are a rational treatment consideration as add-on therapy to statins in patients with T2DM and/or metabolic syndrome who have elevated TG levels. It is important to avoid compromising LDL-C treatment goals, particularly in these patients. The EPA-only formulation offers an option that is effective but does not complicate management: while products containing both EPA and DHA may raise LDL-C, the EPA-only product, icosapent ethyl, does not. Cases from our clinical practice support that patients with diabetes or prediabetes can be safely and effectively switched from omega-3-acid ethyl esters to icosapent ethyl.

Findings from the IMPROVE-IT study, as well as exploratory analyses of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 outcome studies support the concept that incremental reductions in LDL-C levels can have a significant impact on reducing coronary artery disease events.^81–83 These findings not only underscore the value of add-on therapy to statins, but also provide a rationale for avoiding treatments that could increase LDL-C levels. The effectiveness of prescription OM3FAs in reducing TG levels is well established, and ongoing outcomes studies of prescription OM3FAs will help determine whether these products will emerge as an effective add-on option to statin therapy for reduction of residual cardiovascular risk.