Association between n-3 fatty acid consumption and ventricular ectopy after myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
n-3 (omega-3) Fatty acids are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease; however, the relation between dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids and ventricular arrhythmias has not been investigated among acute post-myocardial infarction (AMI) patients-a group at elevated risk of malignant arrhythmias.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to examine the association between n-3 fatty acid consumption and ventricular ectopy among AMI patients.


METHODS
In 260 AMI patients, dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids was assessed by using the Harvard food-frequency questionnaire, and ventricular ectopy was estimated from 24-h electrocardiograph recordings.


RESULTS
A greater intake of n-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid + docosapentaenoic acid + alpha-linolenic acid) was associated with lower ventricular ectopy (beta = -0.35, P = 0.011), and this effect remained after cardiovascular comorbidities were controlled for (beta = -0.47, P = 0.003). Higher concentrations of both marine-based (eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid) (beta = -0.21, P = 0.060) and plant-based (alpha-linolenic acid) (beta = -0.33, P = 0.024) fatty acids remained associated with lower ventricular ectopy after cardiovascular comorbidities were controlled for.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings extend existing evidence linking n-3 fatty acid consumption to a reduced risk of ventricular arrhythmias by showing that a greater intake of n-3 fatty acids may be associated with low ventricular ectopy among AMI patients.
Smith
Patrick J
PJ
Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Blumenthal
James A
JA
Babyak
Michael A
MA
Georgiades
Anastasia
A
Sherwood
Andrew
A
Sketch
Michael H
MH
Watkins
Lana L
LL