How Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Help Prevent Heart Arrhythmias? Study Provides Insights
In a recent study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, researchers found that Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids appear to offer significant benefits for cardiovascular health. Specifically, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a component of fish oil, not only helps relax blood vessels and reduce blood clotting but also plays a role in preventing atrial fibrillation and other types of arrhythmias.
Researchers investigated the role of eicosapentaenoic acid in inducing long-term electrical changes in cultured mouse cardiomyocytes using a variety of bioanalytical techniques.
This study primarily investigated how a mixture of oleic acid and palmitic acid (OAPA), two commonly studied saturated fats, affects calcium balance in cardiomyocytes by altering Ca2+ ion channels, and whether eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) can reverse these effects and restore normal function.
The researchers first used real-time PCR to show that oleic acid and palmitic acid significantly reduced the mRNA levels of Cav1.2 L-type Ca2+ channels. Live cell imaging further revealed that oleic acid and palmitic acid decreased the spontaneous beating rate of cardiomyocytes.
However, these effects were countered when even a small amount of eicosapentaenoic acid was introduced alongside oleic acid and palmitic acid, leading to the restoration of both mRNA and protein levels of Cav1.2. Electrophysiological tests also demonstrated that eicosapentaenoic acid prevented the decrease in Cav1.2 channel current caused by oleic acid and palmitic acid.
Our study indicates that eicosapentaenoic acid has a protective effect on cardiomyocytes by correcting the disruptions caused by excessive consumption of saturated fatty acids, commonly associated with high-fat diets
Reference: Morishima M, Wang P, Horii K, Horikawa K, Ono K. Eicosapentaenoic Acid Rescues Cav1.2-L-Type Ca2+ Channel Decline Caused by Saturated Fatty Acids via Both Free Fatty Acid Receptor 4-Dependent and -Independent Pathways in Cardiomyocytes. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024; 25(14):7570. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147570
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