title: Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation reduces resting heart rate of rats with epilepsy.
abstract: Since cardiovascular dysfunction may contribute to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3 FAs) might be beneficial as an adjunctive therapy for SUDEP prevention. It is well recognized that omega-3 FAs exert positive effects on the cardiovascular system including heart rate (HR) reduction, a major risk factor to sudden death. Thus, we evaluated the effects of chronic supplementation of omega-3 FAs on the HR of rats with epilepsy. In agreement with our previous investigations, this study also showed that the HR of animals with epilepsy is higher than that of the control group. Quite interestingly, chronic supplementation with omega-3 FAs restored the HR of rats with epilepsy toward control values. In conclusion, although further investigations are still required, our preliminary results showed a potential preventive effect of omega-3 FA supplementation against SUDEP.
authors.affiliation: Disciplina de Neurologia Experimental, Universidade Federal de São Paulo/Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcio D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Diego B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Colugnati
authors.forename: Antônio C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Carla A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Scorza
authors.forename: Esper A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Cavalheiro
authors.forename: Roberta M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cysneiros
authors.forename: Fulvio A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Scorza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000633:toxicity; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D010862:Pilocarpine