Marine n-3 fatty acids, wine intake, and heart rate variability in patients referred for coronary angiography.
BACKGROUND
Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) derived from fish may reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD). In addition, wine drinking is suggested to have a protective effect against cardiovascular death.


RESULTS
We included 291 patients referred for coronary angiography in whom ischemic heart disease was suspected and all of whom completed a food questionnaire regarding fish and wine intake. The n-3 PUFA composition of granulocyte membranes and of adipose tissue was measured. In addition, 24-hour heart rate variability (HRV) was analyzed. Fish intake was positively associated with the level of n-3 PUFAs in adipose tissue. Significant positive correlation coefficients were found between HRV indices and the levels of n-3 PUFAs in granulocytes. Wine intake was also significantly positively related to HRV, but the patients with the highest wine intake also had the highest intake of fish, as documented by a high n-3 PUFA content in adipose tissue. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that traditional factors such as treatment with ss-blockers, smoking, age, and previous myocardial infarction were independently related to HRV, and furthermore that n-3 PUFAs (but not wine intake) were significantly independently associated with HRV.


CONCLUSIONS
The close positive association between n-3 PUFAs and HRV in patients suspected of having ischemic heart disease may indicate a protective effect of n-3 PUFAs against SCD. This may partly explain the reduction in SCD observed in humans with a modest intake of n-3 PUFA. Wine intake was also positively correlated with HRV, but this correlation was no longer significant after controlling for the cellular level of n-3 PUFA.
Christensen
J H
JH
Department of Nephrology, Aalborg Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. jhc@dadlnet.dk
Skou
H A
HA
Fog
L
L
Hansen
V
V
Vesterlund
T
T
Dyerberg
J
J
Toft
E
E
Schmidt
E B
EB
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology; D000438:Alcohols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis; D014920:Wine / Q000032:analysis
D000438:Alcohols; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3