Reduction of Heart Rate by Omega-3 Fatty Acids and the Potential Underlying Mechanisms
An elevated resting heart rate is one of the strongest predictors of cardiovascular mortality and is independently associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). Agents capable of reducing heart rate without significant side effects are therefore of particular interest for the prevention of SCD. Recent...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2012-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphys.2012.00416/full |
| _version_ | 1828869498380222464 |
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| author | Jing Xuan Kang |
| author_facet | Jing Xuan Kang |
| author_sort | Jing Xuan Kang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An elevated resting heart rate is one of the strongest predictors of cardiovascular mortality and is independently associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). Agents capable of reducing heart rate without significant side effects are therefore of particular interest for the prevention of SCD. Recent human and animal studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids can reduce heart rate. Our work has shown that omega-3 fatty acids significantly reduce membrane electrical excitability of the cardiac myocyte by lowering its resting membrane potential and the duration of the refractory period through inhibition of ion channels. We propose that these actions may be the underlying mechanisms for the omega-3 fatty acid-induced reduction of heart rate observed in both humans and animals. The heart rate-lowering capability of omega-3 fatty acids may contribute to their preventive effect against SCD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T05:51:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-41949f64f6c24f57bb02e7e446f89c61 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T05:51:46Z |
| publishDate | 2012-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-41949f64f6c24f57bb02e7e446f89c612022-12-21T23:57:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2012-10-01310.3389/fphys.2012.0041637069Reduction of Heart Rate by Omega-3 Fatty Acids and the Potential Underlying MechanismsJing Xuan Kang0Harvard Medical SchoolAn elevated resting heart rate is one of the strongest predictors of cardiovascular mortality and is independently associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). Agents capable of reducing heart rate without significant side effects are therefore of particular interest for the prevention of SCD. Recent human and animal studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids can reduce heart rate. Our work has shown that omega-3 fatty acids significantly reduce membrane electrical excitability of the cardiac myocyte by lowering its resting membrane potential and the duration of the refractory period through inhibition of ion channels. We propose that these actions may be the underlying mechanisms for the omega-3 fatty acid-induced reduction of heart rate observed in both humans and animals. The heart rate-lowering capability of omega-3 fatty acids may contribute to their preventive effect against SCD.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphys.2012.00416/fullHeart RateOmega-3 fatty Acidscardiac sudden deathmembrane electrical excitabilityion channel inhibition |
| spellingShingle | Jing Xuan Kang Reduction of Heart Rate by Omega-3 Fatty Acids and the Potential Underlying Mechanisms Frontiers in Physiology Heart Rate Omega-3 fatty Acids cardiac sudden death membrane electrical excitability ion channel inhibition |
| title | Reduction of Heart Rate by Omega-3 Fatty Acids and the Potential Underlying Mechanisms |
| title_full | Reduction of Heart Rate by Omega-3 Fatty Acids and the Potential Underlying Mechanisms |
| title_fullStr | Reduction of Heart Rate by Omega-3 Fatty Acids and the Potential Underlying Mechanisms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reduction of Heart Rate by Omega-3 Fatty Acids and the Potential Underlying Mechanisms |
| title_short | Reduction of Heart Rate by Omega-3 Fatty Acids and the Potential Underlying Mechanisms |
| title_sort | reduction of heart rate by omega 3 fatty acids and the potential underlying mechanisms |
| topic | Heart Rate Omega-3 fatty Acids cardiac sudden death membrane electrical excitability ion channel inhibition |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fphys.2012.00416/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jingxuankang reductionofheartratebyomega3fattyacidsandthepotentialunderlyingmechanisms |