Table 3.
Effect of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on heart rate and heart rate variability.
| Pre-treatment | Post-treatment | |
|---|---|---|
| HEART RATE (BEATS/MIN) | ||
| VF+ | ||
| Placebo (n = 9) | 122.4 ± 4.7 | 121.6 ± 4.20 |
| n−3 PUFA (n = 22) | 123.3 ± 4.5 | 112.6 ± 4.2* |
| VF− | ||
| Placebo (n = 8) | 123.3 ± 5.2 | 127.0 ± 6.0 |
| n−3 PUFA (n = 23) | 122.3 ± 4.1 | 106.9 ± 3.8* |
| HIGH FREQUENCY (0.24–1.04 Hz) VARIABILITY (ln ms2) | ||
| VF+ | ||
| Placebo | 6.7 ± 0.3 | 6.3 ± 0.5 |
| n−3 PUFA | 7.0 ± 0.3 | 7.5 ± 0.2* |
| VF− | ||
| Placebo | 7.0 ± 0.3 | 6.7 ± 0.4 |
| n−3 PUFA | 6.7 ± 0.3 | 7.7 ± 0.3* |
| R–R INTERVAL SD (ms) | ||
| VF+ | ||
| Placebo | 60.2 ± 6.9 | 67.8 ± 10.2 |
| n−3 PUFA | 59.0 ± 6.6 | 69.8 ± 5.8 |
| VF− | ||
| Placebo | 69.6 ± 8.2 | 68.8 ± 9.4 |
| n−3 PUFA | 65.9 ± 10.3 | 74.8 ± 6.3 |
*P < 0.01 Pre-treatment vs. Post-treatment; n−3 PUFA, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; VF+, susceptible to ventricular fibrillation; VF−, resistant to ventricular fibrillation.