Marine n-3 fatty acid treatment for carotid plaques in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors' conclusion
In patients with T2D, 14 month marine n-3 fatty acid supplementation does not reduce carotid plaque risk but improves lipoprotein profile. The anti-atherosclerotic effect appeared significant in patients with a low genetic risk of remnant cholesterol, warranting further investigation into personalized nutritional strategies.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with T2D359 completed carotid US
- Participants
- 415 patients
- Comparison
- High-dose or low-dose marine n-3 fatty acids vs placebo
- Primary endpoint
- Prevalence of carotid plaques
- Follow-up
- 14 months
Methodological detailsdouble-blind, placebo-controlled, 383 participants (92.3%) completed the 14 month intervention
- Double-blind
- Placebo-controlled
- 383 participants (92.3%) completed the 14 month intervention
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Carotid plaque prevalence
Each group vs placeboOdds ratio (95% CI)
Low-dose
1.11(0.56–2.22)
High-dose
0.54(0.26–1.13)
- Fish oil did not significantly reduce carotid plaque prevalence
- P for trend = 0.111
Secondary outcomes
Incidence of new carotid plaques
- No significant effect of fish oil
- P for trend = 0.304
Regression of existing plaques
- No significant effect of fish oil
- P for trend = 0.390
NMR-derived lipoprotein subclasses
- High-dose significantly reduced remnant cholesterol, LDL-1-TG, HDL-4-TG and HDL-3-TG
Carotid plaque risk by genetic risk for remnant cholesterol
- High-dose significantly reduced carotid plaque risk in low genetic risk; no significant benefit in medium or high genetic risk
- P for interaction = 0.008; FDR = 0.056
Original publication
Marine n-3 fatty acid treatment for carotid plaques in patients with type 2 diabetes. Cardiovasc Diabetol. Published 20 January 2026. doi:10.
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