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n−3 fatty acids, heart rate variability, and sudden cardiac death

  • Published:
Lipids

Abstract

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major cause of mortality in Western countries. Furthermore, SCD is often the first manifestation of coronary artery disease, making it difficult to prevent. Heart rate variability (HRV), which can be determined by extended recording of the heart rate by 24-h Holter monitoring, has been shown to be one of the best predictors of the risk of SCD. There is increasing evidence from animal experiments and clinical trials in humans that n−3 fatty acids reduce the risk of SCD. We have studied the effect of n−3 fatty acids on HRV and present data clearly showing that n−3 fatty acids increase HRV. This adds further to the hypothesis that an increased intake of n−3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of SCD.

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Abbreviations

CHD:

coronary heart disease

CRF:

chronic renal failure

DART:

Diet and Reinfarction Trial

ECG:

electrocardiogram

HRV:

heart rate variability

MI:

myocardial infarction

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acids

PVD:

premature ventricular depolarizations

SCD:

sudden cardiac death

SDNN:

standard deviation of all normal RR intervals during 24 h

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, Aalborg Hospital, 9100, Aalborg, Denmark

    Jeppe Hagstrup Christensen

  2. Department of Medicine, Hjørring/Brønderslev Hospital, 9800, Hjørring, Denmark

    Erik Berg Schmidt

Authors
  1. Jeppe Hagstrup Christensen
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  2. Erik Berg Schmidt
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Correspondence to Jeppe Hagstrup Christensen.

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Christensen, J.H., Schmidt, E.B. n−3 fatty acids, heart rate variability, and sudden cardiac death. Lipids 36 (Suppl 1), S115–S118 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-001-0693-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-001-0693-9

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