Effects of Nutritional Supplements and Dietary Interventions on Cardiovascular Outcomes: An Umbrella Review and Evidence Map

Abstract

Background: The role of nutritional supplements and dietary interventions in preventing mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes is unclear.

Purpose: To examine evidence about the effects of nutritional supplements and dietary interventions on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in adults.

Data sources: PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library from inception until March 2019; ClinicalTrials.gov (10 March 2019); journal Web sites; and reference lists.

Study selection: English-language, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses of RCTs that assessed the effects of nutritional supplements or dietary interventions on all-cause mortality or cardiovascular outcomes, such as death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and coronary heart disease.

Data extraction: Two independent investigators abstracted data, assessed the quality of evidence, and rated the certainty of evidence.

Data synthesis: Nine systematic reviews and 4 new RCTs were selected that encompassed a total of 277 trials, 24 interventions, and 992 129 participants. A total of 105 meta-analyses were generated. There was moderate-certainty evidence that reduced salt intake decreased the risk for all-cause mortality in normotensive participants (risk ratio [RR], 0.90 [95% CI, 0.85 to 0.95]) and cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive participants (RR, 0.67 [CI, 0.46 to 0.99]). Low-certainty evidence showed that omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) was associated with reduced risk for myocardial infarction (RR, 0.92 [CI, 0.85 to 0.99]) and coronary heart disease (RR, 0.93 [CI, 0.89 to 0.98]). Folic acid was associated with lower risk for stroke (RR, 0.80 [CI, 0.67 to 0.96]; low certainty), whereas calcium plus vitamin D increased the risk for stroke (RR, 1.17 [CI, 1.05 to 1.30]; moderate certainty). Other nutritional supplements, such as vitamin B6, vitamin A, multivitamins, antioxidants, and iron and dietary interventions, such as reduced fat intake, had no significant effect on mortality or cardiovascular disease outcomes (very low- to moderate-certainty evidence).

Limitations: Suboptimal quality and certainty of evidence.

Conclusion: Reduced salt intake, omega-3 LC-PUFA use, and folate supplementation could reduce risk for some cardiovascular outcomes in adults. Combined calcium plus vitamin D might increase risk for stroke.

Primary funding source: None.

Figure 1.

Evidence search and selection. RCT = randomized controlled trial.

Figure 2.

Effects of nutritional supplements and dietary interventions on all-cause mortality. ALA = α-linolenic acid; LC-PUFA = long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid. * Updated meta-analysis after inclusion of new clinical trials.

Figure 3.

Effects of nutritional supplements and dietary interventions on cardiovascular mortality. ALA = α-linolenic acid; LC-PUFA = long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid. * Updated meta-analysis after inclusion of new clinical trials..

Figure 4.

Evidence map of availability and appraisal of certainty of the evidence. ALA = α-linolenic acid; LC-PUFA = long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid.