Effects of dietary fat intake in sudden death: reduction of death with omega-3 fatty acids.
Sudden death is one of the most common modes of death in those who survive a myocardial infarction. A recent study of 11,324 patients showed a marked decrease in risk of sudden cardiac death as well as a reduction in all-cause mortality in the post-myocardial infarction group taking a highly purified form of omega-3 fatty acids, added to the use of other secondary prevention drugs, including b-blockers and lipid-lowering therapy. There is now amounting evidence indicating that the clinical benefits of highly purified omega-3 fatty acids may be attributed to their anti-arrhythmogenic properties. Evidence for this mechanism of benefit is reviewed here.
Lee
Kaeng W
KW
Haemostasis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Unit, University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH, England.
Hamaad
Ali
A
MacFadyen
Robert J
RJ
Lip
Gregory Y H
GY
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3