Omega-3 Fatty Acids Reduce Risk For Common Dysrhythmia

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac dysrhythmia among older adults.

AF affects nearly 226 million of Americans, and costs an estimated 27 billion dollars annually in direct health care costs.

AF is associated with a 4- to 6-fold increase in the risk of stroke.  It is estimated that 15 to 20 percent of strokes can be associated with A-Fib.

Research suggests that after the age of 40 (for both men and women), the risk for developing A-Fib greatly increases.

In fact, it is estimated that for men 40 and older, the risk for developing AF is 26 percent, and for women the risk is slightly less at 23 percent.   These risks are not associated with congestive heart failure (CHF) or heart attacks (however the risk may increase with either CHF or heart attacks).

After the age of 80, the risk for AF decreases even more for men and women (22 percent and 21 percent respectively).

Current research has shown a positive relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and risk of AF, however, studies verifying the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids have so far been inconclusive.

However, a new study published in the journal Circulation, could show the importance of including omega-3 fatty acids for reducing your AF risk.

Let me explain…

The Study

The Cardiovascular Health Study conducted between 1996 and 2006, looked at many different factors related to heart disease.

One portion of the study dealt with the role omega-3 fatty acids played in reducing the risk of AF.

They recruited 3,326 men and women who were 65 years or older and were free from AF at the time of baseline measurements.

Also included in the baseline readings were plasma levels of eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosapentaenoic (DPA), and docosahexanoic (DHA), acid.

Over the course of 10 years (1996-2006), there were 789 cases of AF that developed (found through doctor follow-ups, hospital discharge reports, and ECG readings).

The researchers noted that people with the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acid intake (EPA, DPA, and DHA) showed lower risk for developing AF.

They also noted that high levels of DHA alone also lowered the risk for AF.

However, they showed that the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DPA, showed little effect in reducing the risk.

Through their research, they concluded that higher circulating long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) as well as DHA alone could be associated with a decreased risk for developing AF.

Increase Your Omega-3’s

Omega-3 fatty acids have been used for many years as a way to improve heart health, brain health, and eye health.

Some studies have even suggested a positive link between diabetes and higher circulating levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

Now, according to a long-term study, omega-3 fatty acids could reduce your risk for developing atrial fibrillation as you get older.

Even though more studies are needed to verify the results, it could provide promise for omega-3 fatty acids as a preventative treatment option for a wide range of heart-related conditions.

Including more omega-3 fatty acids into your daily routine could help promote better heart health, and potentially reduce your risk for developing a serious heart arrhythmia that could pose dangers to your long-term health.


NEXT: An Easy Way To Include More Omega-3 Fatty Acids Into Your Day >>





References:

Lloyd-Jones, D.  Wang, T.  Leip, E.  Larson, M.  Levy, D.  Vasan, R.  D’Agostino, R.  Massaro, J.  Beiser, A.  Wolf, P.  Benjamin, E.  Lifetime Risk for Development of Atrial Fibrillation.  Circulation. 2004.  doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.000140263.20897.42.

Wu, JHY. Lemaitre, R.  King, I.  Song, X.  Sacks, F.  Rimm, E.  Heckbert, S.  Siscovisk, D.  Mozaffarian, D.  Association of Plasma Phospholipid Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids With Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Older Adults.  Circulation.  2012.  doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.062653.