The Effects of Omega-3 Supplementation on Resting Metabolic Rate: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials

Habib Yarizadeh; Bahar Hassani; Saeed Nosratabadi; Hussein Baharlooi; Sara Asadi; Seyed Ahmad Bagherian; Shariful Islam; Kurosh Djafarian; Khadijeh Mirzaei

doi:10.1155/2021/6213035

The Effects of Omega-3 Supplementation on Resting Metabolic Rate: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Dec 22:2021:6213035. doi: 10.1155/2021/6213035. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Habib Yarizadeh^{1

2}, Bahar Hassani^{3

4}, Saeed Nosratabadi⁵, Hussein Baharlooi⁶, Sara Asadi², Seyed Ahmad Bagherian⁷, Shariful Islam⁸, Kurosh Djafarian⁹, Khadijeh Mirzaei²

Affiliations

¹ Students' Scientific Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), P.O. Box 1417755331, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran.
³ Department of Nutrition, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
⁴ Department of Health Safety and Environment (HSE), Razi Petrochemical Company, Mahshahr, Iran.
⁵ Department of Nutrition, Electronic Health and Statistics Surveillance Research Center, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
⁶ Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran.
⁷ Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
⁸ The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁹ Clinical Nutrition Department, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Background: It is uncertain if omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are associated with increase in resting metabolic rate (RMR) in adults.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the overall effects of omega-3 on RMR.

Methods: Both PubMed and Scopus libraries were searched up to April 2021. Study quality was assessed using the Jadad scale. Random- and fixed-effects models were utilized in order to obtain pooled estimates of omega-3 supplementation impacts on RMR, using weight mean difference (WMD).

Results: Seven studies including a total of 245 participants were included. There was significantly higher FFM-adjusted RMR in the intervention group than the control group (WMD: 26.666 kcal/kg/day, 95% CI: 9.010 to 44.322, p=0.003). Study quality showed that four of seven included studies were of high quality. However, there was no significant difference in results in the subgroup analysis according to the quality of studies. Subgroup analyses revealed significant changes for sex (for women: WMD = 151.793 kcal/day, 95% CI = 62.249 to 241.337, p=0.001) and BMI (for BMI > 25: WMD = 82.208 kcal/day, 95% CI = 0.937 to 163.480, p=0.047). Influence analysis indicated no outlier among inclusions.

Conclusion: The current study depicted that omega-3 polyunsaturated acids can significantly increase RMR in adults. However, further assessments of omega-3 supplementation therapy are critical to monitor its long-term outcomes and potential clinical application.

Publication types

Review