title: Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiac arrhythmias.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are suggestions of effects of marine omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in relation to ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death and, more recently, also of possible effects related to atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the basis of the recently published human studies, this article not only focusses primarily on recent developments and current knowledge on the effect of marine omega-3 PUFAs on atrial fibrillation, but also provides a status for their effects on ventricular arrhythmias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Marine omega-3 PUFAs may protect against ventricular arrhythmias, and there is growing evidence for an effect of marine omega-3 PUFAs in the prevention and treatment of atrial fibrillation. Further studies are needed to establish which patients are more likely to benefit from omega-3 PUFAs, the timing of treatment, and the dosages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Aalborg AF Study Group, Aarhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. tar@rn.dk
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Rix
authors.forename: Jeppe H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Erik B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3