Caution taking fish oil supplements in people with implantable defibrillators
A group of Canadian researchers reviewed the medical literature on this topic.
Not all patents benefit from omega-3 fatty acids.
They searched for studies of patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator a year after placement.
And the results.
- 3 studies of 573 patients who received fish oil and 575 who acted as a control group were found.
- Reanalysis of the results (meta-analysis) showed no overall effect of fish oil on the relative risk of implantable cardioverter defibrillator discharge.
- One study showed a significant benefit of fish oil.
- However, the smallest study reported negative results among patients with ventricular tachycardia (a rapid life-threatening heart rhythm by the lower chambers of the heart).
The bottom line?
The findings reveal that not all patients respond the same to omega-3 fatty acid treatment.
Caution in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators who have a history of ventricular tachycardia and who are not taking antiarrhythmic medications.
2/16/08 16:00 JR