title: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on selected arrhythmia outcomes in animal models.
abstract: Epidemiological studies and clinical trials report the beneficial effects of fish or fish oil consumption on cardiovascular disease outcomes including sudden death. We performed a systematic review of the literature on controlled animal studies that assessed the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on selected arrhythmia outcomes. On the basis of predetermined criteria, 27 relevant animal studies were identified; 23 of these were feeding studies, and 4 were infusion studies. Across species, fish oil, eicosapentaenoic acid, and/or docosahexaenoic acid appear to have beneficial effects on ventricular tachycardia (VT) and fibrillation (VF) in ischemia- but not reperfusion-induced arrhythmia models; no effect on the incidence of death and infarct size; and inconsistent results with regard to arrhythmia score, VF threshold, ventricular premature beats or length of time in normal sinus rhythm, compared to omega-6, monounsaturated, or saturated fatty acids, and no treatment controls. In a meta-analysis of 13 studies using rat models, fish oil but not alpha-linolenic acid supplementation showed a significant protective effect for ischemia- and reperfusion-induced arrhythmias by reducing the incidence of VT and VF. It is not known whether omega-3 fatty-acid supplementation has antiarrhythmic effects in other disease settings not related to ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA. nirupa.matthan@tufts.edu
authors.forename: Nirupa R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Matthan
authors.forename: Harmon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Alice H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Lichtenstein
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lathrop
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D023421:Models, Animal
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid