Heart Attack Recovery

Title: Omega-3 Fatty Acids from Fish Oil, may aid healing after heart attack

Link: http://newsroom.heart.org/news/omega-3-fatty-acids-from-fish-oil-may-aid-healing-after-heart-attack

Author: Bobak Heydari

Summary: (8-10 sent)
The American Heart Association journal, Circulation, has reported that taking high doses of omega three fatty acids every day for 6 months after a heart attack will improve heart function and reduce scarring in the muscle that is undamaged.

Heart Attack Remodeling is what happens after a heart attack when the heart's shape and function is altered. It can possibly lead to heart failure. It was already known that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil could improve survival for patients, but in the Omega-Remodel randomized clinical trial, it was discovered that the structure and condition of the tissue of the heart could also be improved post-heart attack.

The study involved 360 heart attack survivors. They all started the dosage of omega-3 or placebo within a month of the heart attack. In the trial, one group of patients took a placebo while another took 4 grams of omega-3 fatty acids every day for 6 months. Overall, they had a 5.8% reduction in the left ventricular end-systolic volume index (a marker used to predict the outcome of a patient after a heart attack) and a 5.6% reduction in measurement of scarred connective tissue, or fibrosis, formation in non-damaged heart muscle. Simply put, Omega-3 fatty acids allow the heart to contract better and reduces fibrosis. There was also a marked reduce in biomarkers for inflammation, which would mean that omega-3's are anti-inflammatory.



Connection: (4-6 sent) We already knew that omega-3's are good for heart, brain, and muscle health. In Anthony's first article, he talked a little bit about reduced fibrosis after heart attacks, and this article delves a little deeper into that. We know that fatty acids are an important part of cell membranes This is most likely is a vital part of maintaining flexibility in non-damaged parts of the heart tissue.