Figure 6.

Effects of n-3 LC-PUFAs vs a control on the grade of steatosis, assessed using ultrasonography, in patients with NAFLD. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled estimate of the differences in means and the accompanying 95%CI. Studies were weighted by the inverse of their variance; the area of each symbol is proportional to the weight of the study. The diamond represents the pooled effect. The pooled change from baseline in the grade of steatosis with intake of n-3 LC-PUFAs, corrected for changes from baseline in the control group, is −0.71 (95%CI, −0.99 to −0.42; P<0.001). Using the trim and fill method of Duval and Tweedie,³⁵ no studies were found to be missing to the right of the pooled effect. Abbreviations: DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; HyperL, hyperlipidemia/dyslipidemia; n-3 LC-PUFAs, omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids; NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; NR, not reported; SG, steatosis grade.