Reversal of the arrhythmogenic effects of long-term saturated fatty acid intake by dietary n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Article Abstract:

Sudden cardiac death may result from arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation (VF); during arrhythmia the heart beat becomes uncoordinated and irregular. In animals, the dietary fat consumed over the long term can influence susceptibility to arrhythmias. Rats were studied to assess whether the adverse effect of saturated fats on the heart muscle could be arrested or even reversed in mature animals switched to polyunsaturated fats. The vast majority of rats that had been fed the high-saturated fat diet for nine or 18 months developed VF during and after experimental blockage of a coronary artery. There were no deaths attributable to VF among rats fed the saturated fat diet for nine months, but two thirds of those fed the diet for 18 months died of VF. Rats that were switched to polyunsaturated fats after nine months on saturated fats had a dramatically lower incidence of VF and mortality continued to be zero. Two types of polyunsaturated fats were used, n-3 fatty acids from tuna fish oil and n-6 fatty acids from sunflower seed oil. The n-3 fats were more effective at reversing susceptibility to VF than the n-6 type, which appears consistent with much research that has been done on the benefits of certain fish oils in reducing the risk of death from heart disease. The results show that improvements in dietary fat can be effective even in mature animals that have been fed a diet high in saturated fat over the long term. If these results can be extrapolated to humans, which is not certain, they suggest that even older persons could benefit from positive changes in their diets, and that while all polyunsaturated fats may lower risk of sudden cardiac death, fish consumption appears particularly useful. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Abnormalities, Prevention, Heart beat, Heart rate, Ventricular fibrillation, Nutritional aspects, Arrhythmia, Cardiac arrest, Unsaturated fatty acids, Unsaturated fatty acids in human nutrition

---

Menhaden-fish oil in a vitamin E-deficient diet: protection against chloroquine-resistant malaria in mice

Article Abstract:

Malaria is a major global health problem; approximately 500 million cases occur annually, resulting in 2.3 million fatalities. Scientists are very concerned about the proliferation of new drug-resistant strains of the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which causes one type of malaria. Preventive measures aimed at the mosquitoes which transmit P. falciparum to humans have been curtailed because of a reluctance to use the pesticide DDT. In addition, the mosquitoes are becoming increasingly resistant to insecticides. The World Health Organization has called for innovative approaches for controlling malaria. A study was performed to assess the usefulness of a special diet in preventing malaria in mice. The animals were fed a diet deficient in vitamin E, but contained five percent menhaden oil, a fish oil. From this diet, the mice derived significant protection against two strains of malarial parasites. One strain was resistant to chloroquine, the most commonly used antimalarial drug worldwide; the other strain was sensitive to chloroquine. Manipulation of diet may provide protection against strains of malaria that can no longer be controlled with drugs. The authors conclude that tests for the efficacy of fish oils as an antimalarial therapy should be undertaken in monkeys and human subjects. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Malaria, Antimalarials

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Evaluation of vitamin A toxicity. Carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: effects of a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet vs a diet high in monounsaturated fatty acids
• Abstracts: Contractions of the inner third of the myometrium. Effects of colony-stimulating factors on the secretion of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase by human decidual macrophages
• Abstracts: Undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma of the liver: pathological findings and long-term survival after complete surgical resection
• Abstracts: Myocardial contusion without creatine kinase-MB elevation. Blood antibodies and uncrossmatched type O blood. Electrocardiographic response to ice water ingestion
• Abstracts: Reforming the health care system. U.S. medical practice before Medicare and now - differences and consequences

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.