Hold the Fish Oil for Patients with ICDs

Fish-oil supplements did not reduce the risk for ventricular arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and, in some ICD patients, increased the risk.

Evidence from epidemiologic and clinical studies suggests that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have antiarrhythmic properties and might help to prevent atrial fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. Do PUFAs have an antiarrhythmic effect in patients with histories of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs)?

In a multicenter study funded partly by a maker of fish-oil supplements, 200 patients with ICDs (and pre-ICD VT or VF, or recent ICD discharge for VT or VF) were randomized, in double-blind fashion, to receive fish oil (1.8 g/day) or placebo. The subjects' mean LV ejection fraction was 35%. Median follow-up was 24 months.

Mean PUFA levels in red-b…

Reviewing Author

Hugh Calkins, MD