AHRQ Announces ANOTHER Call for Scientific Information in Preparation for Omega-3 DRI Review

The US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) Effective Health Care (EHC) Program has announced that it is seeking scientific information relevant to questions associated with the protocol for “Dietary Intake of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Plasma Lipid and Cardiovascular Events.”

As mentioned in our November 8, 2024 News Alert, when we reported about the review on child growth and development outcomes, we expected the commencement of additional reviews on fat in the coming months, but we didn’t anticipate so little time between requests. GOED will seek additional time from AHRQ to submit comments on this second protocol, but we are not optimistic that our request will be granted, which means that comments will be due by December 16, 2024.

With respect to the first review on child growth and development, the comment submission deadline was originally reported as December 7, but the website now indicates a deadline of December 18.      

GOED will seek clarification from AHRQ about the type of data it wants for this new review, but we suspect it is in line with what they are seeking for the review on growth and development, which is “…supplemental evidence and data (SEADs) for systematic reviews that are relevant to the questions in our evidence reports. To ensure that it has full access to relevant research, whether or not it is published, the EHC Program is interested in receiving SEADs containing detailed study-specific information.”

The key questions for this recently announced review are as follows:

• What are the effects of different dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid intake on plasma lipid concentrations in the general population?
• What are the effects of different dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid intake on cardiovascular events in the general population?

Unlike the review on growth and development, “…the term “effect” does not necessarily imply restriction to randomized controlled trial evidence.” This means that certain observational studies will be considered for inclusion.

Provided the deadline for feedback on this most recent protocol doesn’t change, GOED requests constructive feedback on both protocols be sent to Harry Rice by Friday, December 6.