Newswise — Taking daily
supplements of fish or soy oil may
improve cardiac function and protect against heart attacks in the
short-term. Study results published in the April issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed
journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, are the first
to show that soy oil increases heart rate variability (HRV), a
measure of cardiac autonomic function.
“Our findings contradict the
current belief in the medical community that increasing the intake
of omega-3 fatty acids produces only long-term cardiac benefits,”
said the study’s lead author, Fernando Holguin, MD, Emory University
School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. “In fact, our study group showed
improvements in heart function in as little as two weeks.”
Researchers from Atlanta, GA,
Boston, MA, and Cuernavaca, Mexico, took the HRV of 58 elderly
patients every other day for two months to establish an HRV baseline
for each participant. For 11 weeks, half of the study participants
took a daily 2 g supplement of fish oil, which contains
marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids, and the other half took a daily
2 g supplement of soy oil, which contains plant-derived omega-3
fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids improve heart function by
providing greater variability between beats, therefore reducing the
risk of arrhythmia and/or sudden death. Heart rate variability is
measured by high-frequency (HF) and low-frequency (LF) domain
components and standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN).
Those who received fish oil experienced a significant increase in
total HF and LF domain components and SDNN. Patients who received
soy oil experienced a marginally significant increase in HF and LF
domain components and a significant increase in SDNN.
“Reduced HRV predicts mortality
and arrhythmic complications in patients who have had a heart
attack, as well as those who are considered healthy,” said Dr.
Holguin. “Taking a daily supplement of fish or soy oil may help
reduce the risk of suffering an adverse cardiovascular event, such
as arrhythmia or sudden death, specially in persons with known
cardiovascular disease or at increased risk for it, such as those
with lipid disorders, advanced age, hypertension, a history of
smoking, and family history of heart disease.”
Researchers also discovered that
while patients in both groups experienced a significant increase in
HRV, those who took the fish oil supplements achieved a greater
increase in a shorter time period. Patients who received fish oil
experienced increased HRV within the first 2.7 weeks, whereas it
took 8.1 weeks for a significant increase in HRV to be seen in the
group taking soy oil. None of the study participants experienced
significant negative side effects, but 41% of participants in the
fish oil group reported belching, compared to 16% in the soy oil
group.
“Studies like this demonstrate
that there are additional approaches we can take to protect
ourselves from heart attacks,” said Paul A. Kvale, MD, FCCP,
President of the American College of Chest Physicians. “It's
exciting to see the potential for omega-3 fatty acids in improving
heart function when it complements a healthy lifestyle of
exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting eight hours of
sleep.”
CHEST is a peer-reviewed journal
published by the ACCP. It is available online each month at
www.chestjournal.org. ACCP represents more than 15,700 members who
provide clinical respiratory, critical care, and cardiothoracic
patient care in the United States and throughout the world. ACCP’s
mission is to promote the prevention and treatment of diseases of
the chest through leadership, education, research, and
communication.
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