Several studies found that the consumption and blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids are inversely associated with the risk for sudden cardiac death. However, their relationship with all-cause mortality was unclear.
The aim of the study was to assess the association between baseline blood omega-3 FA levels and reduced risk for all-cause mortality in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD).
The Heart and Soul study is a prospective cohort design study with a median follow-up of 5.9 years.
A total of 956 patients were enrolled into the study.
In comparison to the patients with baseline EPA+DHA levels below the median (<3.6%), the patients with higher ≥ 3.6% had a 27% decreased risk of death [Hazard Ratio {HR} 0.73, 95% CI 0.56-0.94].
Furthermore, this association was unchanged by adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, center, socioeconomic status, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and inflammatory markers (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.55-1.00, p<0.05).
The significant blood levels of blood omega-3 FA levels were inversely associated with total mortality and were independent of standard and emerging risk factors in outpatients with stable CHD. Thus these results suggested that the decreased tissue omega-3 FA levels might adversely impact metabolism.
Pottala JV, Garg S, Cohen BE, et al. Blood EPA and DHA Independently Predict All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Stable Coronary Heart Disease. The Heart and Soul Study. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2010;3(4):406–412.
