BACKGROUND: Experimental data suggest that long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish have antiarrhythmic properties, and a randomized trial suggested that dietary supplements of n-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of sudden death among survivors of myocardial infarction. Whether long-chain n-3 fatty acids are also associated with the risk of sudden death in those without a history of cardiovascular disease is unknown. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, nested case-control analysis among apparently healthy men who were followed for up to 17 years in the Physicians' Health Study. The fatty-acid composition of previously collected blood was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography for 94 men in whom sudden death occurred as the first manifestation of cardiovascular disease and for 184 controls matched with them for age and smoking status. RESULTS: Base-line blood levels of long-chain n-3 fatty acids were inversely related to the risk of sudden death both before adjustment for potential confounders (P for trend = 0.004) and after such adjustment (P for trend = 0.007). As compared with men whose blood levels of long-chain n-3 fatty acids were in the lowest quartile, the relative risk of sudden death was significantly lower among men with levels in the third quartile (adjusted relative risk, 0.28; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.09 to 0.87) and the fourth quartile (adjusted relative risk, 0.19; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.05 to 0.71). CONCLUSIONS: The n-3 fatty acids found in fish are strongly associated with a reduced risk of sudden death among men without evidence of prior cardiovascular disease.
BACKGROUND: Experimental data suggest that long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish have antiarrhythmic properties, and a randomized trial suggested that dietary supplements of n-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of sudden death among survivors of myocardial infarction. Whether long-chain n-3 fatty acids are also associated with the risk of sudden death in those without a history of cardiovascular disease is unknown. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, nested case-control analysis among apparently healthy men who were followed for up to 17 years in the Physicians' Health Study. The fatty-acid composition of previously collected blood was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography for 94 men in whom sudden death occurred as the first manifestation of cardiovascular disease and for 184 controls matched with them for age and smoking status. RESULTS: Base-line blood levels of long-chain n-3 fatty acids were inversely related to the risk of sudden death both before adjustment for potential confounders (P for trend = 0.004) and after such adjustment (P for trend = 0.007). As compared with men whose blood levels of long-chain n-3 fatty acids were in the lowest quartile, the relative risk of sudden death was significantly lower among men with levels in the third quartile (adjusted relative risk, 0.28; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.09 to 0.87) and the fourth quartile (adjusted relative risk, 0.19; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.05 to 0.71). CONCLUSIONS: The n-3 fatty acids found in fish are strongly associated with a reduced risk of sudden death among men without evidence of prior cardiovascular disease.
Authors: Melinda S Schaller; Greg J Zahner; Warren J Gasper; William S Harris; Michael S Conte; Nancy K Hills; S Marlene Grenon Journal: J Clin Lipidol Date: 2017-06-24 Impact factor: 4.766
Authors: William S Harris; James V Pottala; Sean M Lacey; Ramachandran S Vasan; Martin G Larson; Sander J Robins Journal: Atherosclerosis Date: 2012-06-07 Impact factor: 5.162
Authors: Juan Juan; Hongyan Huang; Xia Jiang; Andres V Ardisson Korat; Mingyang Song; Qi Sun; Walter C Willett; Majken K Jensen; Peter Kraft Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2018-05-01 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Fumiaki Imamura; Rozenn N Lemaitre; Irena B King; Xiaoling Song; Alice H Lichtenstein; Nirupa R Matthan; David M Herrington; David S Siscovick; Dariush Mozaffarian Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2012-10-24 Impact factor: 7.045