Risks and benefits of omega 3 fats: Summary of responses

EDITOR—The systematic review by Hooper et al with accompanying editorial by Brunner resulted in 30-odd electronic responses, most of which raised similar concerns.1 2 The main issue was the selection of studies—an “indiscriminate” mix of primary and secondary prevention studies.

The main objection was to the inclusion of the “methodologically poor” DART-2 study,3 which alone changed the conclusion of the meta-analysis from “clear benefit” to “no benefit.” Among the numerous weaknesses that the DART-2 authors themselves had originally drawn attention to, were that this study was …