Alpha-linolenic acid and heart rate variability.
OBJECTIVE
The marine long-chained n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids seem to have antiarrhythmic effects in humans. Similar effect has also been postulated for alpha-linolenic acid, a plant-derived polyunsaturated fatty acid--from the n-3 family. The purpose of the study was to examine the relation between the content of alpha-linolenic acid in cell membranes and the risk of malignant arrhythmias as assessed by determination of heart rate variability (HRV).


RESULTS
Patients at high risk of sudden cardiac death (52 with a previous myocardial infarction and 29 with chronic renal failure on dialysis) were enrolled as well as 64 healthy volunteers. The cell membrane content of alpha-linolenic acid was analyzed by gas chromatography and related to 24-hour HRV, which was measured in all subjects. No correlations were found between levels of alpha-linolenic acid and 24-hour HRV.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study was unable to demonstrate a positive correlation between cell membrane levels of alpha-linolenic acid and HRV. Our results suggest that alpha-linolenic acid per se is devoid of an antiarrhythmic effect, though this effect could arise from its conversion to the longer chained n-3 PUFA, usually derived from fish.
Department of Nephrology, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark.
J H
JH
Christensen
M S
MS
Christensen
E
E
Toft
J
J
Dyerberg
E B
EB
Schmidt
D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid