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Heart rate variability and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with diabetes mellitus
J H Christensen1, H A Skou, T Madsen
1Department of Nephrology, Aalborg Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. jhc@dadlnet.dk
Objectives:
Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) derived from fish may reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The aim of the present study was to examine associations between n-3 PUFA and 24-h heart rate variability in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).
Design:
Observational study.
Setting:
The out-patient's diabetic clinic at Hjørring Hospital, Hjørring, Denmark.
Subjects:
Forty-three patients with type 1 DM and 38 patients with type 2 DM.
Main Outcome Measures:
The patients fulfilled a food-questionnaire regarding fish consumption, whilst the content of n-3 PUFA in platelets was measured and 24-h heart rate variability (HRV) was obtained.
Results:
The patients fish consumption was strongly related to their content of n-3 PUFA in platelets. Furthermore, in patients with type 1 DM a close positive association was found between the content of n-3 PUFA in platelets and 24-h HRV. This association was not significant in patients with type 2 DM.
Conclusions:
The positive association between n-3 PUFA in platelets and HRV may indicate a beneficial effect of n-3 PUFA on HRV in patients with type 1 DM. Further studies are warranted to clarify whether supplementation with n-3 PUFA reduce the risk of SCD amongst patients with DM.
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