Analytic framework for omega-3 fatty acid exposure and cardiovascular disease.This framework concerns the effect of omega−3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) exposure (as a supplement or from food sources) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and risk factors. Populations of interest are noted in the top rectangle, exposure in the oval, outcomes in the rounded rectangles, and effect modifiers in the hexagon. * Specifically, cardiovascular medications, statins, anti-hypertensives, diabetes medications, hormone replacement regimens. † Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), total/HDL-C ratio, LDL-C /HDL-C ratio, triglycerides. ‡ Many other intermediate outcomes are likely in the causal pathway between n-3 FA intake and CVD outcomes, but only blood pressure and plasma lipids were included in the review. Other Abbreviations: ALA = alpha linolenic acid, CHD = coronary heart disease, CHF = congestive heart failure, CKD = non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease, CMS = cardiometabolic syndrome, CVA = cerebrovascular accident (stroke), DHA = docosahexaenoic acid, DM = diabetes mellitus, DPA = docosapentaenoic acid, EPA = eicosapentaenoic acid, FA = fatty acid, HTN = hypertension, MI = myocardial infarction, n-6 = omega−6, PCI = percutaneous coronary intervention, SDA = stearidonic acid.