Effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on heart rate variability

doi:10.5409/wjcp.v15.i1.116331

Advanced Search

BPG is committed to discovery and dissemination of knowledge

Home / Archive / Volume 15, Issue 1

This Article

Peer-Review Report of This Article

CrossCheck and Google Search of This Article

Academic Rules and Norms of This Article

Citation of this article

Corresponding Author of This Article

Research Domain of This Article

Article-Type of This Article

Open-Access Policy of This Article

Times Cited Counts in Google of This Article

Number of Hits and Downloads for This Article

Total Article Views (167)

All Articles published online

The chart showing PDF series, HTML series, Figures (1-6) series, Tables (1-2) series.

Item

Count

PDF

HTML

Figures (1-6)

Tables (1-2)

Sum=61

Publishing Process of This Article

The chart showing Browse series, Download series.

Item

Count

Browse

Download

Sum=30

Mar 9, 2026 (publication date) through Mar 12, 2026

Times Cited of This Article

Times Cited (0)

Journal Information of This Article

Publication Name

World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics

ISSN

2219-2808

Publisher of This Article

Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA

Meta-Analysis

©Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. No commercial re-use. See Permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.

World J Clin Pediatr. Mar 9, 2026; 15(1): 116331
Published online Mar 9, 2026. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v15.i1.116331

Effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on heart rate variability

Hoda Atef Abdelsattar Ibrahim, Kamal Gouda Kamal, Mohamed Khaled Ali Mohamed Ali Zid, Albraa Ashraf Hamad, Ayesha Kuraishi, Marwa Taha

Hoda Atef Abdelsattar Ibrahim, Division of Pediatric Clinical Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt

Kamal Gouda Kamal, Mohamed Khaled Ali Mohamed Ali Zid, Albraa Ashraf Hamad, Ayesha Kuraishi, Undergraduate students, Dr. Hoda Atef Abdelsattar Ibrahim’s Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt

Marwa Taha, Department of Pediatrics, Mataria Teaching Hospital, General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes, Cairo 11756, Egypt

Author contributions: Atef Abdelsattar Ibrahim H contributed to the visualization, conceptualization, the database search, data formal statistical analysis, data interpretation, and manuscript drafting, writing, reviewing, and editing; Kamal KG and Zid MKAMA contributed to the database search; Hamad AA contributed to reviewing and editing; Kuraishi A contributed to manuscript drafting, writing, reviewing, and editing; Taha M contributed to the database search, manuscript drafting, writing, critical reviewing, and editing; All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Conflict-of-interest statement: There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.

Corresponding author: Hoda Atef Abdelsattar Ibrahim, Affiliate Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Clinical Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, No. 1 Gamaa Street, Giza, Cairo 12613, Egypt. hodaibrahim424@gmail.com

Received: November 10, 2025
Revised: November 25, 2025
Accepted: January 5, 2026
Published online: March 9, 2026
Processing time: 118 Days and 8.3 Hours

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Obesity and overweight are major public health challenges and are associated with autonomic imbalance and decreased heart rate variability (HRV), a non-invasive indicator of cardiovascular risk. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have shown cardioprotective effects and may modulate autonomic function. Nevertheless, the effect of omega-3 supplementation on HRV in individuals who are overweight or obese remains unclear.

AIM

To study the effect of omega-3 supplementation on HRV in overweight and obese individuals and to explore the heterogeneity across different study designs.

METHODS

In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. PubMed, Science Citation Index, and Scopus were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the impact of oral omega-3 supplementation on HRV in overweight or obese participants. Primary outcomes were the impacts of omega-3 supplementation on time-domain HRV indices [root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), and percentage of successive normal-to-normal intervals differing by more than 50 milliseconds (pNN50%)], and frequency-domain indices [high-frequency (HF) power, low-frequency (LF) power, and LF/HF ratio].

RESULTS

Four RCTs (n = 134 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Two trials compared pre- vs post- omega-3 supplementation, and two compared omega-3 with placebo on HRV in overweight and obese children and adults. In the within-subject analyses, omega-3 supplementation was associated with a significant increase in RMSSD [mean difference (MD) = -11.69 milliseconds, 95%CI: -18.50 to -4.87, P = 0.0008), SDNN (MD = -26.13 milliseconds, 95%CI: -35.84 to -16.42, P < 0.00001), and pNN50% (MD = -9.45, 95%CI: -14.27 to -4.64, P = 0.0001). Between-group comparisons showed that omega-3 supplementation had no significant effect on HF power, LF power, or the LF/HF ratio.

CONCLUSION

Omega-3 supplementation represents a promising and low-cost strategy for enhancing autonomic balance and potentially reducing cardiovascular risk in overweight and obese populations, as it improves time-domain HRV measures.

Keywords: Autonomic nervous system; Heart rate variability; Meta-analysis; Obesity; Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; Randomized controlled trials

Core Tip: Overweight and obesity have become serious global health concerns that frighteningly impact both adults and children. Obesity is intimately linked to decreased heart rate variability (HRV), which is considered a non-invasive indicator of cardiovascular risk. Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation acts as a promising adjuvant cardio-protective therapy that may improve time-domain HRV in the overweight and obese individuals.