Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Aim: There is conflicting evidence regarding the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women. Thus, we systematically reviewed the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids by conducting a meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Scopus were searched in December 2016. The standardized mean difference (SMD) or weighted mean difference (WMD) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a fixed-effects model.

Results: Eight trials were included in the present meta-analysis. The pooled findings did not identify significant decreases in bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (SMD −0.08, 95% CI −0.29 to 0.12, p = 0.429) and collagen type I cross-linked C-telopeptide (WMD 0 ng/ml, 95% CI −0.04 to 0.04, p = 0.899). There was a significant decrease in osteocalcin (WMD −0.86 ng/ml, 95% CI −1.68 to −0.04, p = 0.040) as compared with control.

Conclusion: Omega-3 fatty acids reduced postmenopausal women’s serum osteocalcin. Further well-designed studies are needed to verify the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on bone mass density and other bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women.

Clinical trial registration number: CRD42016053219 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/).

Keywords:

• Omega-3 fatty acids
• bone turnover markers
• postmenopausal women
• meta-analysis

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Source of funding

The study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81470498).