title: Elevated plasma fatty acid concentrations prolong cardiac repolarization in healthy subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High fatty acid concentrations have been shown to stimulate sympathetic nervous system activity, which may modify ventricular repolarization and thus the Q-T interval on electrocardiogram recordings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate whether acute elevations of plasma fatty acid concentrations influence the corrected Q-T interval (Q-Tc), Q-Tc dispersion, and sympathetic nervous system activity in healthy nonobese subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two healthy subjects (x +/- SD: 48+/-7 y of age) received an infusion of 10% triacylglycerol emulsion plus heparin (a bolus of 200 U followed by 0.2 U min(-1) * kg body wt(-1) for 180 min); on another occasion and in random order, the same subjects received a saline infusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the saline infusion, infusion of 10% triacylglycerol emulsion increased plasma fatty acids (P<0.001) and was associated with an increase in mean blood pressure (P<0.05), heart rate (P<0.05), Q-Tc (P<0.01), Q-Tc dispersion (P<0.01), and plasma epinephrine (P<0.005). Furthermore, individual changes in plasma epinephrine correlated with changes in Q-Tc (r = 0.60, P<0.001) and Q-Tc dispersion (r = 0.53, P< 0.02) even after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index (P<0.03 for all correlations). Only changes in plasma fatty acids (P = 0.04) and plasma epinephrine (P = 0.006) concentrations were significantly and independently associated with the lengthening of the Q-T interval.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that elevated plasma fatty acid concentrations might affect cardiac repolarization, at least in part because of an increase in plasma catecholamines.
authors: Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Marfella
authors: L
authors: L
authors: De Angelis
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Nappo
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Manzella
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Siniscalchi
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Paolisso
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Giugliano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004655:Emulsions; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004655:Emulsions; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D006493:Heparin; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine