Marine-derived n-3 fatty acids therapy for stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Growing stroke burden necessitates novel therapeutic strategies.
• Marine-derived n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) demonstrate neuroprotective potential in experimental stroke models.
• Evidence suggests PUFAs may improve functional outcomes post-stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of marine-derived n-3 PUFAs on functional outcomes and dependence in stroke patients.
• To assess secondary outcomes including mortality, stroke recurrence, and adverse events.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
• Included RCTs compared marine-derived n-3 PUFAs with placebo or no intervention.
• Primary outcome: functional outcome assessed by validated scales (e.g., GOSE, Barthel Index).

Main Results:

• Included 29 RCTs, with 9 providing outcome data (3339 participants).
• Insufficient high-quality evidence for functional outcomes in both short-term (up to 3 months) and longer-term follow-up.
• No clear evidence of effect on vascular death, recurrent stroke, or quality of life; adverse event data were limited.

Conclusions:

• The effect of marine-derived n-3 PUFAs on stroke recovery remains uncertain due to insufficient high-quality evidence.
• More well-designed RCTs are required, particularly for acute stroke, to establish efficacy and safety.
• Future studies should consider early intervention, standardized outcome measures, and optimized dosing and delivery methods.