Fatty Fish Helps Heart Keep Rhythm

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Fatty Fish Helps Heart Keep Rhythm

Eating Fish Rich in Omega-3 Acids Improves Heart's Electrical

Function

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/28/health/webmd/main1845998.sh

tml?CMP=ILC-SearchStories

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(CBS)

 

Quote

 

" The good news is that we're not talking about a large amount of

fish intake, but rather modest fish intake, one to two servings per

week. "

 

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Dariush Mozaffarian, MD

 

 

(WebMD) Eating fish like tuna or salmon one or twice a week can help

older hearts keep their rhythm and reduce the risk of sudden cardiac

death.

 

A new study suggests eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids

regularly acts directly on the heart's electrical function, which

regulates the heart rate and keeps it from beating too fast or too

slow.

 

" The good news is that we're not talking about a large amount of

fish intake, or fish oil supplements, but rather modest fish intake,

one to two servings per week, " says Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH,

cardiologist and instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School,

in a news release. " But that modest intake may have important

benefits. "

 

Researchers say it's the first large-scale study to look at the

effect of fish and fish oil consumption on the electrical function

of the heart.

 

Fish Helps Heart Rate

 

In the study, published in the Journal of the American College of

Cardiology, researchers analyzed dietary information on 5,096 men

and women age 65 and over who participated in a large heart-health

study from 1989-1990.

 

Researchers then compared the participants' fish-eating habits to

their electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) test results. They divided the

participants into five groups depending on the amount of tuna or

other baked/broiled fish intake they reported over the previous

year.

 

The results showed eating tuna or other baked or broiled fish in the

group of participants who reported eating the most, compared to the

group who ate the least, appeared to improve the electrical function

of the heart in at least three ways, including:

 

 

Lowering the resting heart rate.

 

 

Slowing the time between when the heart is signaled to pump blood

and when the pumping occurs.

 

 

Reducing the risk of the heart's electrical system not resetting

properly after each heartbeat.

 

" In contrast to intake of tuna or other broiled or baked fish,

intake of fried fish had no association with the heart's electrical

parameters, " says Mozaffarian. " Previously, we have seen that intake

of fried fish -- which in the U.S. are most often commercially sold

fish burgers or fish sticks -- is not associated with blood levels

of omega-3 fatty acids.

 

This suggests that it may be the omega-3 fatty acids in broiled or

baked fish that are having a positive impact on the heart's

electrical parameters. "

 

Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids include tuna, salmon, lake trout,

mackerel, and herring.

 

SOURCES: Mozaffarian, D. Journal of the American College of

Cardiology, Aug. 1, 2006; vol 48: pp 478-484. News release, American

College of Cardiology.

 

By Jennifer Warner

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

© 2006, WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.