The direct effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the heart
Omega-3 fatty acid consumption has been linked to reductions in the risk of death from heart disease.
Now, researchers from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine report that omega-3 acts directly on the heart rather than acting through the vagus nerve, which normally regulates the heart rhythm.
Here’s what they did.
- Electrocardiograph (EKG) data from 18 heart transplant patients who received omega-3 fatty acid supplementation (1 to 3.4 grams/day) for 4 to 6 months were examined.
Here’s what they found.
- Compared to before treatment, omega-3 treatment was associated with reduced heart rate and prolonged QRS duration (a measure of the beating of the large chamber [ventricle] of the heart) in heart transplant patients who were presumably devoid of any vagus nerve effects.
What does it mean?
- It’s added knowledge about the effects of omega-3 fatty acids.
- The findings suggest that omega-3 fatty acids might modify the electrical activity of the heart directly.
More than you ever wanted to know about the EKG is available here. Go to page 82 for more info on the QRS complex.
1/21/07 13:35 JR