SynthesisAdvances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.)2021
Comparing the Effects of Docosahexaenoic and Eicosapentaenoic Acids on Inflammation Markers Using Pairwise and Network Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Synthesis in Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.), 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03520556 (Do Docosahexaenoic and Eicosapentaenoic Acids Have Similar Effects on Inflammation Markers? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials), which is not on this map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Do Docosahexaenoic and Eicosapentaenoic Acids Have Similar Effects on Inflammation Markers? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Impact of Quantity and Type of Dietary Protein on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Using Standard and Network Meta-analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials.Nutrition reviews · 2025Pooled it
- Four months of DHA and whey protein supplementation in semi-professional female soccer players: a prospective non-randomized controlled study of omega-3 status, hematological outcomes, and physical performance.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- The Role of Omega- 3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Diabetes Mellitus Management: A Narrative Review.Current nutrition reports · 2024Review
- Developmentally programmed obesity: Is there a role for anti-inflammatory nutritional strategies?Experimental physiology · 2024Review
- Review
- Should We "RESPECT EPA" More Now? EPA and DHA for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction.Current cardiology reports · 2023Review
- The Anti-Aggregative Potential of Resolvin E1 on Human Platelets.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of Food Ingredients in Periodontal Diseases.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Status at Birth and Development of Childhood Allergy: A Systematic Review.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Perspective: Nutritional Strategies Targeting the Gut Microbiome to Mitigate COVID-19 Outcomes.Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) · 2021Review
- Host Modulation and Treatment of Periodontal Disease.Journal of dental research · 2021Review
- Letter to the Editor on "Comparing the Effects of Docosahexaenoic and Eicosapentaenoic Acids on Inflammation Markers Using Pairwise and Network Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials".Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) · 2021Article
- Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Recent data from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) suggest that DHA may have stronger anti-inflammatory effects than EPA. This body of evidence has not yet been quantitatively reviewed. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of DHA and EPA on several markers of systemic inflammation by pairwise and network meta-analyses of RCTs. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library were searched through to September 2019. We included RCTs of ≥7 d on adults regardless of health status that directly compared the effects of DHA with EPA and RCTs of indirect comparisons, in which the effects of DHA or EPA were compared individually to a control fatty acid. Differences in circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and adiponectin were the primary outcome measures. Data were pooled by pairwise and network meta-analysis and expressed as mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs. Heterogeneity was assessed (Cochran Q statistic) and quantified (I2 statistic) in the pairwise meta-analysis. Inconsistency and transitivity were evaluated in the network meta-analysis. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach. Eligibility criteria were met by 5 RCTs (N = 411) for the pairwise meta-analysis and 20 RCTs (N = 1231) for the network meta-analysis. In the pairwise meta-analysis, DHA and EPA had similar effects on plasma CRP [MDDHA versus EPA = 0.14 mg/L (95% CI: -0.57, 0.85); I2 = 61%], IL-6 [MDDHA versus EPA = 0.10 pg/mL (-0.15, 0.34); I2 = 40%], and TNF-α [MDDHA versus EPA = -0.10 pg/mL (-0.37, 0.18); I2 = 40%]. In the network meta-analysis, the effects of DHA and EPA on plasma CRP [MDDHA versus EPA = -0.33 mg/L (-0.75, 0.10)], IL-6 [MDDHA versus EPA = 0.09 pg/mL (-0.12, 0.30)], and TNF-α [MDDHA versus EPA = -0.02 pg/mL (-0.25, 0.20)] were also similar. DHA and EPA had similar effects on plasma adiponectin in the network meta-analysis. Results from pairwise and network meta-analyses suggest that supplementation with either DHA or EPA does not differentially modify systemic markers of subclinical inflammation.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.