Table 2.
RCTs of n-3 LCPUFAs in menopausal hot flashes.
| Hot Flashes and Vasomotor Symptoms | n Sample | N-PUFA Assessed Daily Amounts | Duration (Weeks) | Outcome Measures | Major Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study | |||||
| [72] | 19 women | Lovaza 2 g/day (1 g capsule: 465 mg EPA + 375 mg DHA + 160 mg small amounts of other omega-3 fatty acids) | 8 weeks | The secondary outcome was change in HF from beginning to end of the study, as measured by hot flash diary and HFRDIS scores | HF improved significantly with treatment, as evident in hot flash diary scores and HFRDIS scores |
| [71] | E-EPA, n = 43; placebo, n = 39 | A 500-mg capsule three times daily (350 mg of EPA and 50 mg of DHA in the form of ethyl ester) | 8 weeks | Secondary objectives were to compare the mean change in HFs (frequency, intensity, and score) and the proportion of HF responders (≥50% reduction in HF frequency between baseline and week 8) | Supplementation with E-EPA omega-3 fatty acid reduced HF frequency and improved the HF score relative to placebo |
| [73] | 355 women were randomly assigned to receive omega-3s (n = 177) or placebo (n = 178) | 1.8 g/day of omega-3 supplementation (3 pills/day, each containing 425 mg of EPA, 100 mg DHA and 90 mg of other omega-3s) | 12 weeks | The primary outcomes were VMS frequency and bother based on daily diaries at baseline and weeks 6 and 12 | Omega-3s did not significantly reduce hot flash frequency compared to placebo (p = 0.28) |
| [82] | 177 women to omega-3 and 178 to placebo | 1.8 g/day of omega-3 fish oil capsules (425 mg E-EPA acid, 100 mg DHA and 90 mg of other omega-3s three times a day) | 12 weeks | The MsFLASH Network, has conducted three large RCTs for treatment of menopausal VMS testing six interventions including omega-3 fatty acid supplementation | The MsFLASH 02 interventions of yoga, exercise, and omega-3 showed little effect in reducing vasomotor symptom frequency or bother relative to control |
| [83] | 355 women | 1.8 g/day of omega-3 (425 mg E-EPA, 100 mg DHA and 90 mg of other omega-3s) | 12 weeks | MENQOL total and domain (VMS, psychosocial, physical and sexual) scores | Hot flash interference, stress, pain and sexual function showed no improvement with exercise or omega-3 interventions over usual care or placebo, respectively |
DHA: Docosahexaenoic Acid; EPA: Eicosapentaenoic Acid; E-EPA: Ethyl-Eicosapentaenoic Acid; HFRDIS: Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale scores; HF: hot flashes; VMS: vasomotor symptoms; MENQOL: Menopausal Quality of Life Questionnaire.