In recent years, many doctors have urged patients to eat oily fish — such as mackerel, herring, albacore tuna and salmon — or take fish oil supplements. Both contain omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to better recovery from heart disease and a lower risk in older people of atrial fibrillation, in which the heart's electrical system malfunctions, and the muscle fails to beat in an orderly fashion. But it's not entirely clear that omega-3 fats are good for the general population without heart disease. And some research has suggested they may actually boost the risk of atrial fibrillation in certain people, such as those younger than 60... 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.

Permalink| Posted @ 12:01 AM |