Studies of the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation by ALA

Overview

An alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) rich diet in the Lyon Heart Study reduced sudden cardiac deaths possibly by reducing cardiac arrhythmias and ventricular fibrillation (Lancet 1994). Since then, there has been a growing interest in ALA as a cardioprotective nutrient. Much of the interest has focused on the potential antiarrhythmic effect of ω-3 fatty acids, especially the longer chain ω-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, derived from fish. We therefore concluded it important to test whether the shorter chain ω-3 vegetable oil ALA also had antiarrhythmic effects, since this might also explain the beneficial effects seen on cardiovascular mortality in the Lyon Heart Study.

Objective: We determined the effect of an ALA rich diet in reducing recurrence of atrial fibrillation as a further example of a cardiac arrhythmia. Design: Randomized parallel design efficacy study. Setting: Three university hospital centers in the Bordeaux region, France. Patients: 98 successive patients successfully underwent electro cardioversion of whom 75 completed the study without major deviations according to the protocol. Intervention: A canola margarine and oil together with a Mediterranean diet (ALA ω-3, 1.4 g/d) versus a conventional diet (control), with a one year follow-up. Main outcome measure: Length of time to first recurrence of atrial fibrillation. Significance: If ALA is antiarrhythmic this action may explain its cardioprotective effect in clinical trials and cohort studies.

Conditions