DHA-supplemented diet increases the survival of rats following asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary bypass resuscitation.
Accumulating evidence illustrates the beneficial effects of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on cardiovascular diseases. However, its effects on cardiac arrest (CA) remain controversial in epidemiological studies and have not been reported in controlled animal studies. Here, we examined whether dietary DHA can improve survival, the most important endpoint in CA. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into two groups and received either a control diet or a DHA-supplemented diet for 7-8 weeks. Rats were then subjected to 20 min asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest followed by 30 min cardiopulmonary bypass resuscitation. Rat survival was monitored for additional 3.5 h following resuscitation. In the control group, 1 of 9 rats survived for 4 h, whereas 6 of 9 rats survived in the DHA-treated group. Surviving rats in the DHA-treated group displayed moderately improved hemodynamics compared to rats in the control group 1 h after the start of resuscitation. Rats in the control group showed no sign of brain function whereas rats in the DHA-treated group had recurrent seizures and spontaneous respiration, suggesting dietary DHA also protects the brain. Overall, our study shows that dietary DHA significantly improves rat survival following 20 min of severe CA.
Laboratory for Critical Care Physiology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, New York, 11030, United States of America.
Junhwan
J
Kim
Laboratory for Critical Care Physiology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, New York, 11030, United States of America.
Tai
T
Yin
Laboratory for Critical Care Physiology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, New York, 11030, United States of America.
Koichiro
K
Shinozaki
Laboratory for Critical Care Physiology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, New York, 11030, United States of America.
Joshua W
JW
Lampe
Laboratory for Critical Care Physiology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health System, Manhasset, New York, 11030, United States of America.
Lance B
LB
Becker
D000818:Animals; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000401:mortality*; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000401:mortality*; D004032:Diet; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced / Q000401:mortality*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015996:Survival Rate
D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids