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Research: MARCHIOLI and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 87
Abstract
MARCHIOLI and colleagues, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Epidemiology, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Santa Maria Imbaro, Italy, E: marchioli@negrisud.it, assessed the time course of the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in reducing death rates in patients surviving a recent heart attack (myocardial infarction, MI).
Background
Methodology
The investigators analysed data obtained in an Italian clinical trial (Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell’Infarto Miocardico Prevenzione [GISSI]), in which 11,323 patients surviving a recent (3 months) MI received 1) supplements of n-3 PUFAs (1 g/day); 2) supplements of vitamin E (300 mg/day); 3) supplements of both PUFAs and vitamin E; or 4) no treatment (control), in addition to optimal drug treatment and lifestyle advice. Data were analysed for early efficacy of n-3 PUFA treatment with regard to total, cardiovascular (CV), cardiac, coronary and sudden death; non-fatal MI; total coronary heart disease (CHD); and cerebrovascular (CBV) events.
Results
n-3 PUFA treatment significantly lowered total mortality (relative risk [RR] 0.59) from as early as 3 months of treatment and the risk of sudden death (RR 0.47) from 4 months. Similarly significant reductions in CV, cardiac and coronary deaths were seen starting at 6 to 8 months of treatment.
Conclusion
Low-dose n-3 PUFA supplementation had early beneficial effects on total mortality and sudden death, supporting suggestions that n-3 PUFAs may have antiarrhythmic activity. Such a mechanism is consistent with results of studies on isolated heart cells and those from animal, clinical and epidemiological studies.
References
Marchioli R et al. Early protection against sudden death by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids after myocardial infarction: time-course analysis of results of the Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell’Infarto Miocardico (GISSI)-Prevenzione. Circulation 105 (16): 1897-903. Apr 2002.
Comment
These results appear to offer significant hope for heart attack victims. @i:79
