Omega-3 helps prevent sudden cardiac death

Studies show that about half of all deaths from heart disease are sudden and unexpected, regardless of the underlying disease. Half of all deaths due to narrowing of the coronary arteries are sudden, as are half of the deaths due to degeneration of the heart muscle or to cardiac enlargement in patients with high blood pressure.

While deaths from coronary artery disease have fallen, mortality from sudden cardiac death remains the most common cause of death in many countries. Previous heart attack victims have a risk of sudden death which is four to six times the rate of the general population. The females are not necessarily the stronger sex in relation to sudden death. At older ages, women who have heart attacks are twice as likely as men to die from them within a few weeks.

To prevent sudden cardiac death, one must treat the underlying problems i.e. coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and other risk factors.

Over the last 10 years, there have been convincing scientific data showing that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil may have a significant clinical application in the prevention of sudden cardiac death. Heart experts, including the American Heart Association (AHA), have now recommended omega-3 in the prevention of heart attack, stroke and sudden cardiac death. It has been suggested that the decreased mortality associated with fish intake may be in part due to a reduction by omega-3 fatty acids of fatal arrhythmias leading to cardiac arrest.

Several clinical trials, including the highly acclaimed GISSI Prevenzione Trial published in the prestigious Lancet medical journal, have shown a consistent effect of omega-3 in reducing the incidence of sudden cardiac death. In the same trials, no significant cardiovascular benefits have been reported with vitamin E.

A locally available brand of omega-3 supplement is Omegabloc which is an over-the-counter food supplement in most Mercury and Watson drug stores nationwide. It comes in one-gram softgels and is recommended at a dose of two to three softgel capsules daily. It is manufactured by a leading manufacturer of food supplements in the United States.

The benefits of omega-3 fatty acid therapy in cardiac arrhythmias are now the subject of extensive investigation as cardiac arrest is a major cause of death and various antiarrhythmic drugs are harmful for some patients.

Aside from its antiarrhythmic effects, the other beneficial effects of omega-3 are:

• Decrease in thrombosis (blood clot formation), which can lead to heart attack and stroke;

• Decrease in triglyceride levels;

• Decrease in growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque;

• Improvement in the overall health of arteries; and

• Slight decrease in the blood pressure.

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have shown that omega-3 fatty acid supplements can reduce cardiovascular events (death, non-fatal heart attacks, non-fatal strokes). They can also slow the progression of atherosclerosis in coronary patients.

There is now abundant literature that omega-3 helps improve overall health and energy level. Aside from its beneficial effect on heart disease, it can also help prevent cancer, depression and Alzheimer’s. There are also scientific data showing its benefits in rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Raynaud’s disease and a host of other diseases.

Increasing omega-3 fatty acid intake through foods is preferable. However, patients with coronary artery disease may not be able to get enough omega-3 (about one gram per day) by diet alone. These people may discuss with their doctor about taking a supplement to reduce their risk of coronary heart disease. Supplements also could help people with high triglycerides, who need even larger doses (two to four grams per day).