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Heart rate variability and n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with diabetes mellitus

2001; Wiley; Volume: 249; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1046/j.1365-2796.2001.00841.x

1365-2796

Jeppe H. Christensen, Helle Aarup Skou, Trine Madsen, I. Tørring, Erik Berg Schmidt,

Cardiovascular and exercise physiology

Abstract. Hagstrup Christensen J, Aarup Skou H, Madsen T, Tørring I, Berg Schmidt E (Aalborg Hospital, Aalborg; and Hjørring/Brønderslev Hospital, Hjørring, Denmark). Heart rate variability and n ‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with diabetes mellitus. J Intern Med 2001; 249: 545–552. Objectives. Dietary n ‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) derived from fish may reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The aim of the present study was to examine associations between n ‐3 PUFA and 24‐h heart rate variability in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Design. Observational study. Setting. The out‐patient’s diabetic clinic at Hjørring Hospital, Hjørring, Denmark. Subjects. Forty‐three patients with type 1 DM and 38 patients with type 2 DM. Main outcome measures. The patients fulfilled a food‐questionnaire regarding fish consumption, whilst the content of n ‐3 PUFA in platelets was measured and 24‐h heart rate variability (HRV) was obtained. Results. The patients fish consumption was strongly related to their content of n ‐3 PUFA in platelets. Furthermore, in patients with type 1 DM a close positive association was found between the content of n ‐3 PUFA in platelets and 24‐h HRV. This association was not significant in patients with type 2 DM. Conclusions. The positive association between n ‐3 PUFA in platelets and HRV may indicate a beneficial effect of n ‐3 PUFA on HRV in patients with type 1 DM. Further studies are warranted to clarify whether supplementation with n ‐3 PUFA reduce the risk of SCD amongst patients with DM.