title: Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on heart rate in cardiac transplant recipients.
abstract: Omega-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) consumption has been linked to reductions in the risk of death from coronary heart disease and, recently, to lower heart rates (HRs). The investigators previously observed a reduction of 5 beats/min in HR in patients with coronary heart disease given n-3 FAs (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) for 4 months. Reductions in HR may be explained by enhanced vagal tone, influences on cardiac voltage-gated ion channels, or both. The hypothesis that n-3 FAs would affect HR independent of vagal input was investigated by studying the effects of n-3 FA supplementation on HR in patients with denervated hearts after orthotopic heart transplantation. Electrocardiographic data obtained in 2 prospective trials in which 18 heart transplant recipients received n-3 FA supplementation (1 to 3.4 g/day) for 4 to 6 months were collected. Patients were studied 4.4 +/- 2.6 years after transplantation. HR, QRS complex, and QTc duration were determined before and after treatment. Pretreatment HR was reduced from 88 +/- 14 to 83 +/- 13 beats/min after n-3 FA treatment (p = 0.016). QRS duration increased from 107 +/- 24 to 117 +/- 25 ms (p = 0.001). QTc duration remained unchanged from baseline (427 +/- 34 ms) to study end (424 +/- 39 ms). In conclusion, n-3 FA supplementation reduced HR and prolonged QRS duration in heart transplant recipients who were presumably devoid of vagal innervation. These findings suggest that n-3 FAs may modify electrophysiologic properties of the myocardium itself.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Laney
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sastre
authors.forename: A Michael
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Borkon
mesh_terms: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid