Fish Oil and Statin Drugs in Treating Dyslipidemia

Dyslipidemia is a condition defined by low-density lipoprotein, high triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Choi & Chae, 2018). The condition is one of the causes of coronary heart disease – a cardiovascular disease. Notably, cardiovascular diseases are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA. The condition needs control to avoid recurrent cardiovascular events. Statins are the practical treatment choice for dyslipidemia for the majority of patients. These medications have a-hydroxymethyl glutaryl, coenzymes, and reductive inhibitors with potent total and LDL cholesterol-lowering effects (Pitha & Poledne, 2021). However, a combination is optimal for patients unresponsive to statin monotherapy. In such a case, omega-3 fatty acids and statins therapy drugs are used as a combination to regulate abnormal lipid concentration.

Fish oils supplementation contains high omega fatty acids (OTC), effectively reducing low-density lipoprotein production. Research has indicated lowering cholesterol and triglycerides in fish oils (Pitha & Poledne, 2021). Hence, fish oil is helpful in patients with elevated triglyceride levels. Nonetheless, fish oil can also increase low-density lipoproteins cholesterol levels. By far, the major secondary trial date with 11,324 patients evaluated fish oils and their effect on dyslipidemia. The oils reduced deaths by 20% and sudden deaths by 45% (Sherratt et al., 2021). In addition, the omega-3 stabilized the electric activity of cardiac myocytes. While the oils had an immediate effect, decreased triglyceride, and had cholesterol levels, they did not reduce the mortality rate, cardiovascular events, or cancerous events. While omega-3 has health advantages, it should not be recommended for dyslipidemia to replace statin drugs. Individuals can use OTC fish oils to support their general health but not replace them. In addition, the omega-3 clinical mandate is vaguely defined as a treatment for dyslipidemia. FDA has not approved the fish oil dietary supplement to treat any specific condition.

Combining statin and fish oil improves lipid profiles and prevents cardiovascular events such as dyslipidemia. Studies have evaluated the combination benefit. While most of these studies use relatively small samples sizes and different baseline lipid profiles, the results have indicated the beneficial effect of adding omega-3 to statin as a medication for dyslipidemia. First, the combination of statins and fish oils enhances the lipid profiles, unlike statin monotherapy. However, FDA states statins are the most effective drugs to prevent dyslipidemia diseases since they reduce cholesterol levels, have anti-inflammatory properties that stabilize blood vessels, and can. (Choi & Chae, 2018). However, while the first-line therapy for dyslipidemia patients is necessary, other pharmacological agents with a different mechanism, such as omega-3, are recommended to offer more significant improvements. Physicians need to evaluate the potential risks and benefits before initiating a second agent to statin drugs. In contrast to other agents, omega-3 fatty acid does not require extensive laboratory tests and does not entail increasing risk for severe conditions.

While statin effectively reduces mortality rates, the triglyceride-lowering action of the drugs is unimpressive. Despite the current aggressive nature of statin drugs therapies, many patients are still at risk. The statin drugs use exposes patients to hypertriglyceridemia as an additional cardiovascular condition (Sherratt et al., 2021). High-risk dyslipidemia patients treated with statins continue to experience. Additionally, using statin drugs with either fibrates or niacin improves lipids but increases non-cardiovascular mortality. Most studies indicate omega-3 fatty acids as an optimal combination with statin therapy to reduce cardiovascular mortality (Choi & Chae, 2018). The biological properties of omega-3 in fish oils, such as antiarrhythmic, antithrombotic, and anti-inflammatorys, improve serum lipids.

FDA considers fish oils supplements as food; hence, they cannot be considered a replacement for statin drugs. Unlike the statin drugs prescription, Fish oil supplements do not require clinical tests (Sherratt et al., 2021). While omega-3 consumption has a significant medical benefit for cardiovascular conditions such as dyslipidemia, they are not evidence-based medicine. Notably, a comprehensive analysis of the basis of clinical evidence suggests that fish oils contain a lower amount of O3FAs than specified and saturated fats that might inadvertently increase cardiovascular risks (Pitha & Poledne, 2021). Statins are prescription medications guaranteeing lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels; fish have general health benefits. Patients who cannot tolerate statins may require alternatives that include dietary changes and lipid-lowering medication such as fibrates, ezetimibe, nicotinic acids, and bile acid sequestrants, among others (Pitha & Poledne 2021). While fish oils offer health benefits and are dietary supplementary, they are not a recommended treatment criterion.

In summary, a combination of fish oils and statin drugs can be powerful tools for managing dyslipidemias and associated conditions. Fish oils cannot be considered a replacement for statin drugs. Accompanied by healthy lifestyles and appropriate treatment, the combination can significantly affect patients’ health. The combination has consistently illustrated effective, safe, and well-tolerated therapy for dyslipidemia. Nonetheless, the combination therapy of fish oils must be cautiously administered after thorough assessing the benefits and risks. Extensive trials with clinical events are necessary to evaluate the potential cardiovascular benefits of the combined treatment and determine the optimal treatment strategy for risk reduction.

References

Choi, H. D., & Chae, S. M. (2018). Comparison of efficacy and safety of combination therapy with statins and omega-3 fatty acids versus statin monotherapy in patients with dyslipidemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine, 97(50).

Pitha, J., & Poledne, R. (2021). The Truth About Fish (Oil) in the Treatment of Dyslipidemia. Current atherosclerosis reports, 23(3), 1-9.

Sherratt, S. C., Lero, M., & Mason, R. P. (2020). Are dietary fish oil supplements appropriate for dyslipidemia management? A review of the evidence. Current opinion in lipidology, 31(2), 94.

Pitha, J., & Poledne, R. (2021). The Truth About Fish (Oil) in the Treatment of Dyslipidemia. Current atherosclerosis reports, 23(3), 1-9.