Authors: , , , , , and
Many previous studies examined the effects of a large amount
of Omega-3 (or more generally, Poly-Unsaturated) Fatty Acids administered over
a short time period on heart health. The data from this study, however, was the
result of orally-administered, daily amounts of PUFA’s over the period of a few
weeks. Results in previous studies have been conflicting, mostly due to the
difference in administration of the PUFAs.
In this study the effects of Omega-3’s were studied in dogs
who had been artificially induced to a greater heart rate (in both the atria
and ventricle), with appropriate controls. Both electrical remodeling (permanent
irregular heartbeat) and structural remodeling (scar tissue) were induced as a
result of the tachypacing. In the dogs, omega-3’s didn’t have a large impact on
the atrial tachycardia-induced electrical remodeling, but did attenuate the
effects of structural remodeling due to the congestive heart failure caused by
the irregular heartbeat.
This was hypothesized to be the result of omega-3’s
preventing the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase chains. Among
many other things, MAPks promote the inflammatory response and contribute to
mitosis. Reducing their activation lessens inflammation and prevents fibrosis
in the heart.
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