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Evidence summaries

Omega 3 Fatty Acids for Maintenance of Remission in Ulcerative Colitis

Non-enteric coated omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) are probably not effective for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis. Level of evidence: "C"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 3 studies with a total of 138 adult subjects with ulcerative colitis at remission. The included RCTs used different formulation and dosing of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3, fish oil) but none used enteric coated capsules (which allow release of the fish oil in the small bowel). The pooled analysis showed a similar relapse rate in the n-3 treated patients and in controls (RR 1.02; 95% CI 0.51 to 2.03; P = 0.96). No significant adverse events were recorded in any of the studies.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison) and indirectness (only non-enteric coated capsules used; olive oil used as control in two studies).

    References

    • Turner D, Steinhart AH, Griffiths AM. Omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007 Jul 18;(3):CD006443. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords