Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Diabetes - A Review of Current Evidence.

Authors

Rachel A Wattick, Tara B McNabb, Alana G Hudson

Published in

Current diabetes reports. Volume 26. Issue 1. Sep 14, 2026. Epub Sep 14, 2026.

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among individuals with diabetes. This review examines recent evidence on the effects of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on cardiovascular outcomes in diabetes.
Cardiovascular outcomes trials demonstrate heterogeneous effects of omega-3 supplementation. High-dose purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has reduced cardiovascular events in selected high-risk populations, whereas low-dose combined EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA + DHA) formulations have generally shown limited benefit. Omega-6 fatty acid evidence remains more limited, with most studies evaluating lipid markers rather than clinical cardiovascular outcomes. More investigation is needed into the potential benefits and optimal formulation of omega-3 fatty acids for cardiovascular outcomes in diabetes. Omega-6 fatty acids appear neutral or beneficial when replacing saturated fats, but their effects on clinical cardiovascular outcomes among individuals with diabetes remain uncertain. Future research should prioritize diabetes-specific trials examining patient characteristics, background diet, fatty acid formulation, dose, and long-term safety.

PMID:
42734836
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 15 Sep 2026.

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