N-3 FATTY-ACIDS AND VENTRICULAR EXTRASYSTOLES IN PATIENTS WITH VENTRICULAR TACHYARRHYTHMIAS

The purpose of the Study was to examine the effect of a dietary supplement with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) on ventricular arrhythmias (extrasystoles) and on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in a double blind placebo-controlled design. Thirty-five patients discharged from the Department of Cardiology with a diagnosis of ventricular tachyarrhythmia between January 1988 and September 1991 were asked to participate in tile study and 24 patients gave their informed consent. These patients were randomized to receive either 5.2 g of n-3 PUFAs daily (4.3 g of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) as 8 capsules of Pikasol(R) or corn oil rich in n-6 PUFAs (controls). The supplements were given for 16 weeks. A 48 hour Holter-recording was obtained and fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and repeated 16 weeks later at tile end of the study in order to monitor the number of ventricular extrasystoles/48 h (VE/48 h), fasting plasma lipids and lipoproteins. Tile median logarithmic number of VE/48 h (1rd-3st quartiles within parentheses) decreased from 5.9 (1.6-6.7) to 2.9 (2.8-7.0) in tile n-3 group anti fi om 5.2 (4.0-7.7) to 4.6 (2.4-6.5) among controls. No statistically significant differences was found within or between tile two groups. Plasma triglycerides significantly decreased in the n-3 group, anti LDL-cholesterol signifi- cantly decreased in the control group. No significant changes were observed regarding total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol.