Fish oil has been the subject of many medical studies that have confirmed its benefits for various serious diseases, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It helps to reduce inflammation and improves symptoms in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Ventricular tachycardia, on the other hand, is a common form of arrhythmia that arises as a complication of several different heart-related diseases and can be potentially lethal. At the time of publication, fish oil was under study for its effects on tachycardia.
Benefits of Fish Oil
Fish oil contains omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids that help lower the body's levels of triglycerides, Drugs.com reports. Without proper management, high triglyceride levels can lead to stroke, heart disease and coronary artery disease. However, since the body cannot manufacture omega-3 fatty acids on its own, it must be obtained from dietary sources such as fish, vegetables and supplements. Fish oil's triglyceride-lowering properties have also been found to benefit patients with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes.
Causes of Ventricular Tachycardia
Ventricular tachycardia is a type of rapid heartbeat irregularity or arrhythmia involving a pulse rate greater than 100 beats per minute. A major cause of sudden cardiac death, it commonly develops after a patient sustains a heart attack, usually after the first several hours, MedlinePlus explains. Ventricular tachycardia appears in patients with cardiomyopathy, heart surgery, heart disease and myocarditis, though it can also appear in individuals without heart disease. Other causes include lack of adequate oxygen, changes in blood chemistry and anti-arrhythmic medications.
Treating Ventricular Tachycardia
The treatment for ventricular tachycardia depends largely on the type of heart disorder associated with it and the specific symptoms, MedlinePlus notes. In emergency cases, patients may need to undergo CPR, electrical defibrillation or take anti-arrhythmic medication intravenously. Long-term treatment of ventricular tachycardia also involves administering anti-arrhythmic drugs such as sotalol and procainamide; however, since these tend to have serious side effects, their use is declining. An alternative to medication is the surgical implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, ICD, in the patient's chest.
Effects of Fish Oil on Tachycardia
Despite the numerous benefits, fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids do not have a clear effect on ventricular tachycardia. A 2004 study that the Kardiologie Medizinische Poliklinik conducted, appearing in the May issue of The Lancet, showed that increased consumption of fish oil had immediate inhibitory effects on tachycardia and reduced mortality from sudden cardiac death in patients with ICDs. However, a 2005 study that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association took a much larger sample of 200 patients and revealed that fish oil did not reduce the risk of ventricular tachycardia. In fact, the authors concluded that fish oil may actually increase arrhythmia in some patients and advised them to avoid fish oil consumption.
References
- Drugs: Fish Oil
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Fish Oil Supplementation and Risk of Ventricular Tachycardia and Ventricular Fibrillation in Patients With Implantable Defibrillators; Merritt H. Raitt, MD; et al.
- MedlinePlus: Ventricular Tachycardia
- "University of Maryland Medical Center"; Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; June 25, 2009
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