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The effect of n-3 fatty acids on heart rate variability in patients treated with chronic hemodialysis.

Svensson M, Schmidt EB, Jørgensen KA, Christensen JH

Department of Nephrology, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. My_Svensson@hotmail.com <My_Svensson@hotmail.com>

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to address the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients treated with chronic hemodialysis. DESIGN: We performed a randomized, placebo-controlled intervention trial. SETTING: The study took place at two hospital-based dialysis centers. PATIENTS: Thirty patients with documented cardiovascular disease who were treated with hemodialysis for at least 6 months were included. INTERVENTION: Treatment consisted of 1.7 g of n-3 PUFA or a control treatment (olive oil). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The outcome measure was 24-hour Holter recordings with time domain HRV measurements at baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Blood samples were obtained to assess the content of n-3 PUFA in serum phospholipids before and after treatment. RESULTS: n-3 PUFA did not significantly affect time domain parameters of HRV, compared with a control group. CONCLUSION: We conclude that treatment with n-3 PUFA does not increase HRV in patients treated with chronic hemodialysis, a result that may have been compromised by a small sample size.

Published 25 June 2007 in J Ren Nutr, 17(4): 243-9.
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