TO THE EDITOR: in her article, &quo...

TO THE EDITOR: in her article, "omega-3 Fatty Acids," (1) in American Family Physician, Dr Covington provides a thorough review of omega-3 fatty acids. A challenge for readers, however, is deciding in what manner to change their practice based forward a review. Reviews describe the included studies yet often not their quality. In addition, the selection of respects in a review may create a bias. These issues are addressed by the agency of performing a systematic review, which attempts to rigorously examine, evaluate, and synthesize all relevant studies forward a given topic.

As common example of a different conclusion reached through a review and a systematic review, Dr Covington described studies that reported improvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who take omega-3 fatty acids. However, a novel systematic review (2) found no significant improvement in pain, swollen joint cast up or patient global assessment in those taking omega-3 fatty acids. This systematic review (2) was single of a series on omega-3 fatty acids lay opened by the Agency for healthcare research and Quality's evidence-based Practice Center Program in partnership with the National institutes of health office of dietary counterparts Reports also have been released in succession omega-3 fatty acids and other topics like as cardiovascular disease, cancer, sign 2 diabetes, asthma, mental health, organ transplantation, and cognitive function. These can be accessed online at http:// www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcix.htm. reports upon maternal and child health and vigilance health care are in progres Compared with narrative reviews, systematic reviews so as these can provide a more accurate assessment of the evidence for an intervention's safety and efficacy.

KENNETH s FINK, M.D., M.G.A., M.P.H.

Director, Evidence-based Practice Center Programs

Center for issues and Evidence

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

540 Gaither Rd

Rockville, MD 20850

REFERENCES

(1) Covington MB Omega-3 fatty acids. Am Fam Physician 2004;70:133-40

(2) Newberry SJ purports of omega-3 fatty acids forward lipids and glycemic control in archetype II diabetes and the metabolic syndrome and in succession inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, renal disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and osteoporosis. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U Dept of Health and Human Services, 2004 Rockville, Md: Evidence report/technology assessment no. 89; AHCPR publication no. 04-E012-02

EDITOR'S NOTE: this epistle was sent to the author of "omega-3 Fatty Acids," who declined to reply

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