PURPOSE OF REVIEW: N-3 fatty acids from fish reduce cardiovascular mortality including sudden cardiac death. In this paper, the authors discuss the results of human studies with regard to the hypothesis that n-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of fatal coronary heart disease through antiarrhythmic effects. RECENT FINDINGS: Results from two recent clinical trials do not support a protective effect of n-3 fatty acids. In light of the earlier published bulk of evidence that n-3 fatty acids reduce cardiovascular mortality and sudden cardiac death, it is hard to explain these findings. Two recent observational studies confirmed that intake of n-3 fatty acids from fish is associated with less cardiovascular disease in the general population. They indicated that the protective effect of a fish meal may depend on the n-3 fatty acid content or preparation method and suggested a protective effect on arrhythmia rather than on atherosclerosis. Intervention studies on electrophysiological predictors of arrhythmia do not clearly confirm a beneficial effect of n-3 fatty acids. However, most of these studies were small or performed in healthy populations. SUMMARY: The available evidence still suggests that n-3 fatty acids may prevent fatal cardiac arrhythmia, but more conclusive studies are urgently needed.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: N-3 fatty acids from fish reduce cardiovascular mortality including sudden cardiac death. In this paper, the authors discuss the results of human studies with regard to the hypothesis that n-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of fatal coronary heart disease through antiarrhythmic effects. RECENT FINDINGS: Results from two recent clinical trials do not support a protective effect of n-3 fatty acids. In light of the earlier published bulk of evidence that n-3 fatty acids reduce cardiovascular mortality and sudden cardiac death, it is hard to explain these findings. Two recent observational studies confirmed that intake of n-3 fatty acids from fish is associated with less cardiovascular disease in the general population. They indicated that the protective effect of a fish meal may depend on the n-3 fatty acid content or preparation method and suggested a protective effect on arrhythmia rather than on atherosclerosis. Intervention studies on electrophysiological predictors of arrhythmia do not clearly confirm a beneficial effect of n-3 fatty acids. However, most of these studies were small or performed in healthy populations. SUMMARY: The available evidence still suggests that n-3 fatty acids may prevent fatal cardiac arrhythmia, but more conclusive studies are urgently needed.
Authors: Lee Hooper; Rachel L Thompson; Roger A Harrison; Carolyn D Summerbell; Andy R Ness; Helen J Moore; Helen V Worthington; Paul N Durrington; Julian P T Higgins; Nigel E Capps; Rudolph A Riemersma; Shah B J Ebrahim; George Davey Smith Journal: BMJ Date: 2006-03-24
Authors: L Hooper; R L Thompson; R A Harrison; C D Summerbell; H Moore; H V Worthington; P N Durrington; A R Ness; N E Capps; G Davey Smith; R A Riemersma; S B J Ebrahim Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2004-10-18
Authors: Kristian B Filion; Fouad El Khoury; Michael Bielinski; Ian Schiller; Nandini Dendukuri; James M Brophy Journal: BMC Cardiovasc Disord Date: 2010-06-03 Impact factor: 2.298
Authors: Asmaa S Abdelhamid; Tracey J Brown; Julii S Brainard; Priti Biswas; Gabrielle C Thorpe; Helen J Moore; Katherine Ho Deane; Fai K AlAbdulghafoor; Carolyn D Summerbell; Helen V Worthington; Fujian Song; Lee Hooper Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2018-11-30
Authors: Asmaa S Abdelhamid; Tracey J Brown; Julii S Brainard; Priti Biswas; Gabrielle C Thorpe; Helen J Moore; Katherine Ho Deane; Fai K AlAbdulghafoor; Carolyn D Summerbell; Helen V Worthington; Fujian Song; Lee Hooper Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2018-07-18