n-3 fatty acids in the prevention of cardiac arrhythmias

In animals and probably in humans n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are antiarrhythmic. A report follows on the recent studies of the antiarrhythmic actions of PUFA. The PUFA stabilize the electrical activity of isolated cardiac myocytes by inhibiting sarcolemmal ion channels,so that a stronger electrical stimulus is required to elicit an action potential and the relative refractory period is markedly prolonged. This appears at present to be the probable major antiarrhythmic mechanism of PUFA.