Blood Levels of Long-Chain n-3 Fatty Acids and the Risk of Sudden Death

The Scientific Paper:

Christine M. Albert, Hannia Campos, Meir J. Stampfer, Paul M. Ridker, JoAnn E. Manson, Walter C. Willett, and Jing Ma. New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Vol. 346, No. 15, pp. 1113-1118. 2002.

Review This Scientific Paper’s Abstract:
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/346/15/1113

The Purpose of this Study:
To learn if high blood levels of certain beneficial fatty acids reduce the risk of sudden death from a certain type of heart attack.

Some Background, Methods, Results, Caveats, and Other Select Points:

• This peer-reviewed, scientific paper was published in 2002.
• These scientists studied apparently healthy men who were followed for up to 17 years in the Physicians’ Health Study.
• The fatty acids found in previously collected blood samples were analyzed in the laboratory for 94 men in whom sudden death occurred as the first sign of heart disease — and for 184 live men matched with the deceased men for age and if a smoker.
• This type of research is called a prospective, nested, case-control analysis.
• The certain beneficial fatty acids found in fish are strongly associated with a reduced risk of sudden death among men without evidence of prior heart disease.
• More than one-half of all sudden deaths from heart failure happen in people with no history of heart disease.
• Research data suggest that certain beneficial fatty acids can reduce the risk of experiencing a certain type of poorly beating heart.
• Another study suggested that adding certain beneficial fatty acids to the human diet may reduce the risk of sudden death among survivors of myocardial infarction (a certain type of heart attack).
• These scientists do not know if certain beneficial fatty acids have any effect(s) on other types of heart attacks and/or heart disease.
• Let us think about the various limitations of these research data. First, these scientists’ analyses are based on just one measurement — and therefore may not accurately reflect levels of certain beneficial fatty acids over time. Possible laboratory error(s) must also be considered here.

A Bottom Line:
Certain beneficial fatty acids in fish are strongly related with a reduced risk of sudden death among men without evidence of prior heart disease.

Find This Scientific Paper for Your Review:
Blood Levels of Long-Chain n-3 Fatty Acids and the Risk of Sudden Death. New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Vol. 346, No. 15, pp. 1113-1118. 2002.