When someone suffers a heart attack (myocardial infarction), part of their heart tissue is permanently damaged or dies. The ability of the heart to “remodel” — to compensate for or repair the injured tissue — determines how well it will function in the future. Poor remodeling increases the risk of heart failure and death.
Scientists have long been interested in whether drug or nutrition interventions can improve this remodeling process. The OMEGA-REMODEL trial, led by Dr. Raymond Kwong and colleagues at three major hospitals in Boston (with Dr. William Harris, President of OmegaQuant, as a co-author), set out to answer this question.
Study Design: High-Quality, Rigorous, and Controlled
The OMEGA-REMODEL study included 322 patients who had recently survived a heart attack. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either:
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High-dose omega-3 supplements: 3.4 grams per day of EPA + DHA (Lovaza®, GSK)
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Placebo: Corn oil
The intervention lasted 6 months and was initiated 2–4 weeks after hospital discharge. While this delay was a limitation (starting sooner may have produced stronger benefits), the trial design was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled — the gold standard in clinical research.
Most participants (over 90%) were already on standard post-heart attack therapies, including statins, beta-blockers, and antiplatelet drugs. This is significant because it reflects modern medical practice and tests whether omega-3s provide additional benefits beyond standard care.
Importantly, the Omega-3 Index (EPA+DHA in red blood cells, measured at OmegaQuant) was tracked to confirm supplement compliance and to explore the link between blood omega-3 levels and cardiac recovery.
Understanding the Key Measurement: LVESVI
The trial’s main endpoint was the Left Ventricular End-Systolic Volume Index (LVESVI).
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The left ventricle is the heart’s main pumping chamber.
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End-systolic volume refers to how much blood remains in the left ventricle after a contraction (when it should be almost empty).
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When adjusted for body size, this value is called the LVESVI.
A high LVESVI means the heart is not pumping efficiently and has failed to remodel properly after a heart attack. Elevated LVESVI is a predictor of future heart failure.
Key Results: Omega-3s Improved Heart Remodeling
After 6 months:
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Omega-3 group: LVESVI decreased by 5.4%
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Placebo group: LVESVI increased by 1.2%
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Statistical significance: P < 0.01
For context, prior research showed that a 4% reduction in LVESVI was linked to a 45% decrease in mortality.
Even more compelling was the relationship between Omega-3 Index improvement and cardiac outcomes:
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For every 1 standard deviation increase in the Omega-3 Index, LVESVI decreased by 4.6% (P < 0.001).
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Patients in the top 25% of Omega-3 Index improvements (>5.8% increase) had significantly better remodeling than those in the lowest 25%.
This clearly demonstrates that tissue incorporation of omega-3s (as reflected by the Omega-3 Index) was strongly linked to heart recovery.
Why This Matters
The OMEGA-REMODEL study is a landmark trial showing that high-dose omega-3 fatty acids can provide cardiac benefits even in the modern era of advanced drug therapy.
Key takeaways:
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Omega-3 supplementation improves cardiac remodeling after heart attack.
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Larger increases in the Omega-3 Index = better outcomes.
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Raising the Omega-3 Index could become a standard part of post-heart attack care, alongside medications.
Conclusion
The OMEGA-REMODEL trial offers strong evidence that increasing omega-3 intake — specifically raising the Omega-3 Index by around 6% — significantly improves heart recovery after a heart attack.
As research continues, the hope is that Omega-3 Index testing and supplementation will be integrated into the standard of care for heart attack survivors, giving patients a better chance at long-term recovery and survival.