Rett syndrome: with omega-3 improve heart function

Omega-3 supplements could have positive effects on the heart health of children with Rett syndrome, a neurological disorder associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. The action of Omega-3s appears to be due to their ability to reduce oxidative stress.  

This was reported in an Italian study conducted at the University Hospital of Siena and published in the journal Mediators of Inflammation.

The oxidative state in Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome is a rare disorder that predominantly affects women and is one of the most severe forms of cognitive impairment. Patients with the disease show a risk of sudden cardiac death about 300 times higher than healthy people. Previous studies have identified cardiac dysfunction in them associated with oxidative stress, that is, the increase in free radicals, called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage various cellular components. These same studies have shown that Omega-3 supplements can decrease the levels of oxidative molecules in the blood in patients with Rett syndrome.

Positive effects of oilo fish

The study involved 66 affected girls, with an average age of 12 years. Half of the participants received twice-daily fish oil supplements containing the omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) for one year, while the rest received no supplementation. Using echocardiography, heart function was evaluated before and after the treatment period. Blood samples, collected at the beginning of the study, at 6 and 12 months, were analyzed for the presence of oxidative stress signal molecules, such as isoprostanes produced by the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The results showed a reduction of these molecules after 12 months in patients who had received Omega-3. No significant changes were evident in the control group. Myocardial dysfunction and clinical severity were significantly improved among those who had received the supplements, remaining unchanged in the others. The researchers also observed in the girls who had taken Omega-3s, improvements in attention, breathing, muscle tone, movement and growth.

The action of omega-3s on oxidative status

According to scientists, the increase in isoprostane levels evident in Rett syndrome is not only due to oxidation of fatty acids by ROS, but also to the effect of dysregulation of Omega-3 targets. The latter regulate membrane composition and gene expression, interact with ion channels, and alter eicosanoid synthesis. In fact, the results showed that EPA and DHA taken with supplements are not further oxidized and isoprostane production is reduced, attenuating disease severity. Taken together, these data suggest that oxidative stress may play a key role in the cardiac efficiency of Rett syndrome and that the heart can be at least partially safeguarded by supplementation with Omega 3.   

Source: Silvia Maffei, Claudio De Felice, Pierpaolo Cannarile, Silvia Leoncini, Cinzia Signorini, Alessandra Pecorelli, Barbara Montomoli, Stefano Lunghetti, Lucia Ciccoli, Thierry Durand, Roberto Favilli, and Joussef Hayek. "Effects of ω-3 PUFAs Supplementation on Myocardial Function and Oxidative Stress Markers in Typical Rett Syndrome "Mediators of Inflammation Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 983178, 8 pages