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

AbstractAim: 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 wom...