Omega-3s in cardiac arrhythmias

Studies demonstrating theeffectiveness of Omega-3 in the treatment of arrhythmias are numerous. Some research has shown that daily intake of 3 grams of fish oil benefits cardiovascular health because it lowers levels of triglycerides and "bad" cholesterol. It also reduces the incidence of premature atrial and ventricular disorders.

 

These potentially life-threatening disorders are responsible for one-third of deaths from cardiac arrest. Underlying them is an increase in cell excitability (batmotropism) that manifests as a perturbation of the sequence of initiation and propagation of the electrical impulse in the heart.

 

 

 

 

A safe heart with omega-3s

 

Keeping the disorder under control is crucial to avoid serious complications. In this regard, as early as 1996 research published in the British Medical Journal showed that daily intake of 2.4 grams of Omega-3 decreased the symptoms of ventricular arrhythmias.

 

Three years later, the same group of researchers confirmed the beneficial effects that those suffering from these diseases can gain from Omega-3s.

 

Thebeneficial effect of Omega-3 would, in this case, be due to the role played by these fatty acids in cell membranes.

 

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Washington (Seattle, U.S.) has shown that the rate of death from cardiac arrest from arrhythmia decreases when heart cell membranes are rich in long-chain Omega-3.

 

Taking pure DHA, not precursors such as alpha-linoleic acid, results in a clear antiarrhythmic effect due to increased incorporation of DHA itself into the membranes of heart cells, which can be as high as 20%.