Efficacy of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and feasibility of optimizing preventive strategies in patients at high cardiovascular risk: rationale, design and baseline characteristics of the Rischio and Prevenzione study, a large randomised trial in general practice

The authors claim that treatment with n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid reduces the risk of heart attacks. The claim has been made using observational research without accounting for multiple confounding factors. Correlation does not imply causation.

In d101056nejmoa1205409_2013 (double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial), a similar study shows that there is no effect.

Discussed in Statistics Done Wrong (page 84).

Reference

“Efficacy of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and feasibility of optimizing preventive strategies in patients at high cardiovascular risk: rationale, design and baseline characteristics of the Rischio and Prevenzione study, a large randomised trial in general practice” (2010) DOI: 10.1186/1745-6215-11-68

@Article{d101186174562151168_2010,
  title = {Efficacy of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and feasibility of optimizing preventive strategies in patients at high cardiovascular risk: rationale, design and baseline characteristics of the Rischio and Prevenzione study, a large randomised trial in general practice},
  volume = {11},
  issn = {1745-6215},
  url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-11-68},
  doi = {10.1186/1745-6215-11-68},
  number = {1},
  journal = {Trials},
  publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
  year = {2010},
  month = {may}
}