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Systematic Reviews
Published in: Systematic Reviews 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Systematic review update

Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on appetite: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials

Authors: Bahareh Sasanfar, Fatemeh Toorang, Amin Salehi-Abarghouei

Published in: Systematic Reviews | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

The current studies explore the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on appetite.

Objective

To examine the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) on appetite using a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials (CTs).

Patients and methods

Online databases including PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched up to January 2022. A random-effects model was used to compare the overall standardized mean difference in appetite scores between n-3 PUFAs supplemented and control individuals.

Results

Fifteen eligible CTs with 1504 participants (872 for n-3 PUFA supplementation and 632 for placebo groups) were included in our systematic review. The meta-analysis showed no significant difference in overall appetite score between n-3 PUFAs supplemented and control groups (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.458, 95% confidence interval [CI] − 0.327, 1.242, P value = 0.25). However, the n-3 PUFA supplementation significantly increased the desire to eat (SMD = 1.07, 95% CI 0.116, 2.029, P = 0.02) compared to control.

Conclusion

Although we found no effect of omega-3 supplementation on overall appetite score, it modestly increases the desire to eat. Further CTs evaluating the effect of PUFAs on appetite are still needed to confirm these findings.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on appetite: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials
Authors
Bahareh Sasanfar
Fatemeh Toorang
Amin Salehi-Abarghouei
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Systematic Reviews / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 2046-4053
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02430-y

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