Fish Oil & Heart Arrhythmia

The effects of fish oil on health are well documented and enjoy a long history. In the 1970s, Danish researchers first observed that fish oil played an important role in explaining the low incidence of heart disease among Greenland's indigenous Inuit population. Since that time, the intake of fish oil has been the focus of numerous controlled studies. While earlier studies helped to understand the overall nutritional benefits of fish oil, later ones have endeavored to uncover how the body processes the nutritional components of fish oil for specific cells and organ systems. Research concerning fish oil and arrhythmia have had mixed results. The American Heart Association, however, continues to recommend regular consumption.

Essential Fatty Acids

Even though studies regarding fish oil and heart arrhythmia vary with regard to how fish oil works on heart health, there is, nonetheless, a substantial body of evidence suggesting that nutrients contained in fish oil provide a layer of protection and prevents arrhythmias, according to "Circulation" journal in 2010. These protective nutrients primarily result from the Omega-3 fatty acid found in marine fish. Omega-3 fatty acid is an essential fatty acid, meaning the body cannot manufacture it on its own; it must be derived from foods or supplementations. Also referred to as polyunsaturated fatty acid, or PUFA, the Omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil is the base nutrient the body needs in order to manufacture eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. According to the American Heart Association, EPA and DHA are the acting byproducts of fish that supply a beneficial effect to the heart.

Heart Disease and the Silent Killer

Heart disease, arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death, or SCD and are all intimately related. The Cleveland Clinic estimates that SCD is the largest cause of natural death in the United States, causing about 325,000 adult deaths each year, and it is responsible for nearly half of all heart disease deaths. SCD occurs when the heart arrests and fails to pump blood. Its ability to pump blood depends not only on a strong heart muscle but also on a rhythmic sequence of electrical contractions. Since the electrical circuit responsible for the orderly timing of heart beats resides in the heart's muscle cells themselves, the damage to cardiac tissue associated with heart disease directly affects not only the pumping strength of the heart but also the pumping coordination of the heart. Arrhythmia is the loss of this coordination, and when it occurs in the lower chambers of the heat, called the ventricles, death soon follows.

Mechanisms of Interaction

Heart attack survivors stand a greater risk for SCD from an arrhythmia because during a heart attack, a blocked coronary artery deprives heart tissue below the blockage of oxygenated blood, consequently leading to cellular tissue damage. If Omega-3 provides cardiac tissue with arrhythmia subverting reinforcement, then studies aiming to understand "how" cells are strengthened indeed are well worthwhile.

In the Feb. 1, 2003 edition of "Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology," researchers observed possible mechanisms to explain the stabilizing effect of Omega-3 fatty acids on the heart's muscle tissue itself. They noted evidence for a direct effect of Omega-3 fatty acids which impacted heart rate variability in survivors of heat attacks. In addition, EPA and DHA also appeared to have a contributing role for the increase in ventricular capacity to fill with blood. Fatty acids in general support various cell structures, so stabilizing damaged tissue cells would understandably protect against the rogue arrhythmias inclined to develop in these areas.

Theories and Speculations

In 2010, "BMC Cardiovascular Disorders" reports that exact cardio-protective mechanisms of Omega-3 fatty acids are unknown. They go on to state that improved cardiac tissue cell function is likely involved. Many reviews and meta-analyses aim to clarify the effect of Omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular outcomes, but controversy prevails with both positive and negative conclusions. From their review of the available literature, developments seem to favor the beneficial effects of Omega-3 fatty acids on heart disease in patients with prior cardiac conditions, as well as in healthy individuals. What is most noteworthy is that fish oil and heart arrhythmia involve many variables, so seek the latest information from your physician before considering any significant dietary changes.

Validating the Omega-3 Market

While mechanisms telling "how" fish oil and heart arrhythmias interact are unknown, the overall benefits are well established; so, after consulting with a physician, refer to the American Heart Association and as a source for nutritional information. In addition, beware of the numerous Omega-3 supplements on the market, utilize the AHA for a better understanding of how Omega-3 fatty acids operate with the body, and consult a professional before purchasing supplements. In the interim, enjoy a few meals of fresh fish.