Research published in Circulation (2009;120(23):2315–2321) examined the relationship between omega-3 fatty acid levels and the development of atrial fibrillation. The study followed 2,174 men, ages 42 to 60, participating in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. All participants were free of atrial fibrillation at baseline.
Over a follow-up period of just over 17 years, 240 cases of atrial fibrillation were documented. Men with higher blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA, DPA, and DHA had a lower incidence of atrial fibrillation compared to those with lower levels.
These findings suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may play a role in supporting normal cardiac rhythm, possibly through effects on inflammation, cell membrane stability, or electrical signaling in the heart.
