Epilepsy and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy?: eat more fish! A group hypothesis.
Epilepsy is the commonest serious neurological disorder and individuals with epilepsy are at higher risk of death than the general population and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the most important direct epilepsy-related cause of death. Potential pathomechanisms for SUDEP are unknown, but it is very probable that cardiac arrhythmias during and between seizures play a potential role. The ultimate goal of SUDEP research is to develop methods to prevent it and nutritional aspects such as omega-3 fatty acid deficiency may have an interesting role in this scenario. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality and are important for treating or preventing some neurological diseases, including epilepsy. A dietary modification or nutritional supplements increasing the ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids may help to ''save the brain'.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Roberta M
RM
Cysneiros
Vera C
VC
Terra
Hélio R
HR
Machado
Ricardo M
RM
Arida
Marly de
Md
Albuquerque
Carla A
CA
Scorza
Esper A
EA
Cavalheiro
Fulvio A
FA
Scorza
D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005396:Fish Products; D006801:Humans
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3