title: Do omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce risk of sudden cardiac death and ventricular arrhythmias? A meta-analysis of randomized trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have demonstrated to have antiarrhythmic properties. However, randomized studies have shown inconsistent results.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to analyze the effect of omega-3 PUFA on preventing potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized trials comparing omega-3 PUFA to placebo and reporting sudden cardiac death (SCD) or first implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) event for ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation were included in this study. A meta-analysis using a random effects model was performed and results were expressed in terms of Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) after evaluating for interstudy heterogeneity using I(2). The reported data were extracted on the basis of the intention-to-treat principle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 32,919 patients were included in nine trials; 16,465 patients received omega-3 PUFA and 16,454 received placebo. When comparing omega-3 PUFA to placebo, there was nonsignificant risk reduction of SCD or ventricular arrhythmias (OR = 0.82 [95% CI: 0.60-1.21], p = 0.21 I(2) = 49.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary supplementation with omega-3 PUFA does not affect the risk of SCD or ventricular arrhythmias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756-0001, USA. khoueiry_gm@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Khoueiry
authors.forename: Nidal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abi Rafeh
authors.forename: Erinmarie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saiful
authors.forename: Zehra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jaffery
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Kenigsberg
authors.forename: Subramaniam C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.forename: Sanjaya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khanal
authors.forename: Soad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bekheit
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kowalski
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012306:Risk; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
keywords: Arrhythmias; Dietary supplements; Fish oil; Sudden cardiac death