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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 What could explain the seemingly contradictory finding?
It's possible that omega-3 fatty acids may actually promote the development of atrial fibrillation in younger people but prevent it in older people who have other medical conditions, said study author Dr. Anthony Aizer, an electrophysiologist at New York University Medical Center.
He added that atrial fibrillation isn't as great a risk in people who don't have conditions like congestive heart disease and high blood pressure. "Younger people are significantly less likely to have these additional medical conditions," he said. "As a result, the risk in younger people as a whole is likely to be significantly lower."
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Aizer acknowledged that the study didn't rely on "gold standard" methods, such as double-blind, placebo-controlled research. So, it's possible that another unknown factor could explain the rise in atrial fibrillation cases seen in study participants, he said.
That possibility makes sense to Dr. Marie-Noelle Langan, chief of electrophysiology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. She said it's possible that the male doctors who ate a lot of fish each week were health-minded athletes, who can be prone to atrial fibrillation.
"It's possible this is a group of very fit people who run like maniacs," Langan said. "It doesn't take that many patients to throw off the statistics."
Langan's hospital plans to launch its own study into fish oil and atrial fibrillation.
So should you take fish oil supplements or eat a lot of oily fish?
"There is no evidence that it's dangerous for your life," said Dr. Francesco Santoni, who's also an electrophysiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital. However, "it's unclear what effect it has in the general population on arrhythmias," or heart rhythm disturbances.
Aizer had similar views. "The message of this study is not to stop eating fish," he said. "Fish may have different effects on different people. Lifestyle and dietary habits need to be tailored on an individual basis to promote overall health."
For now, he said, "clearly, more investigation is needed to reach a more definitive answer about the multiple effects of omega-3 fatty acid on the heart's electrical function."
More information
Here's what the American Heart Association (www.americanheart.org ) has to say about omega 3 fatty acids.
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