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 supple ment with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) on ventricular a rrhythmias (extrasystoles) and on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in a double blind placebo-controlled design. Thirty-five patients discharge d from the Department of Cardiology with a diagnosis of ventricular ta chyarrhythmia between January 1988 and September 1991 were asked to pa rticipate in tile study and 24 patients gave their informed consent. T hese patients were randomized to receive either 5.2 g of n-3 PUFAs dai ly (4.3 g of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) as 8 caps ules of Pikasol(R) or corn oil rich in n-6 PUFAs (controls). The suppl ements were given for 16 weeks. A 48 hour Holter-recording was obtaine d and fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and repeated 16 wee ks later at tile end of the study in order to monitor the number of ve ntricular extrasystoles/48 h (VE/48 h), fasting plasma lipids and lipo proteins. 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 control s. No statistically significant differences was found within or betwee n tile two groups. Plasma triglycerides significantly decreased in the n-3 group, anti LDL-cholesterol signifi- cantly decreased in the cont rol group. No significant changes were observed regarding total choles terol and HDL-cholesterol.