In a prospective clinical study, the consumption of fish oil
supplements had the effect of reducing the electrical irritability of the
heart in people with heart rhythm disturbances. "This stabilizing
effect may be one way in which fish oil reduces mortality in patients with
coronary
artery
disease," Dr. Glenn D. Young from Royal Adelaide Hospital,
Australia told Reuters Health. "This study supports the more wide
spread use of fish oil and/or fish consumption in coronary artery disease
patients," Young said.
Several studies have reported a decrease in risk of sudden cardiac
death or cardiac arrest with increased consumption of fish or fish oils,
fueling the idea that fish oil may have heart-rhythm stabilizing, or
"anti-arrhythmic" properties.
The study by Young and colleagues supports this line of thinking.
They studied 26 patients suffering from a rapid abnormal heart rhythm
called ventricular tachycardia who were having a cardiac defibrillator
implanted. Twelve patients consumed 3 grams of fish oil daily for 6 weeks
and 14 did not.
At an initial electrophysiologic study, the researchers were able to
induce ventricular tachycardia through programmed extra stimuli in all 26
patients.
At a repeat electrophysiologic study, 42 percent of the fish oil group
had no inducible ventricular tachycardia compared with just 7 percent of
the control group.
Additionally, 42 percent of the fish oil group required more aggressive
stimulation to induce ventricular tachycardia, compared with 36 percent of
the control group.
This research, conclude Young and colleagues, "strongly"
supports the premise that fish and fish oils have heart-rhythm stabilizing
effects, but their role in the management of patients with heart rhythm
abnormalities "remains to be established."
SOURCE: American Journal of Cardiology, March 15, 2008.
Story By
Sky Waters
