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Capillary Blood Docosahexaenoic Acid Levels Predict Electrocardiographic Markers in a Sample Population of
Breno P Casagrande1,2, George Sherrard1, Mike S Fowler3
1College of Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester WR2 6AJ, UK.
Insights
Higher blood docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels in women inversely correlate with electrocardiogram (ECG) QRS area, suggesting DHA influences ventricular efficiency and cardiac electrical activity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Electrocardiography
Background:
- Established link between blood N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels and cardiovascular health.
- Lack of direct evidence on N-3 PUFA influence on electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters.
- Need to investigate specific N-3 PUFAs, like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in relation to cardiac electrical activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between capillary blood docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels and ECG parameters in healthy pre-menopausal women.
- To explore potential mediation effects of DHA on ECG outputs, specifically QRS area and R wave amplitude.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of 23 healthy pre-menopausal women with adequate study power.
- Collection of food intake, anthropometric, and cardiovascular data.
- Capillary blood collection for fatty acid chromatographic analysis and ECG measurements.
Main Results:
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) significantly and inversely correlated with QRS area under the curve (AUC-QRS), independent of control variables.
- Each unit increase in DHA corresponded to a 2.3-unit decrease in AUC-QRS.
- Mediation analysis indicated DHA significantly impacts AUC-QRS, with 77% of the effect mediated through R wave amplitude.
Conclusions:
- A novel inverse relationship exists between capillary blood DHA and AUC-QRS in healthy women.
- Findings suggest DHA mediates the association between ventricular mass and QRS depolarizing voltage, impacting ventricular efficiency.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these findings in patient populations.
Abstract:
Introduction: The relationship between blood N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels and cardiovascular health is known, but direct evidence that N-3 PUFA levels influence electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters is non-existent. In the study described herein, we investigated the relationship between anthropometric biomarkers and capillary blood PUFAs with ECG outputs in a sample population of healthy pre-menopausal women. Method: Twenty-three consenting females were recruited, with the study power analysis sufficiently demonstrated. Food intake, anthropometric and cardiovascular parameters were obtained. Capillary blood was collected for fatty acid chromatographic analysis. Results: Body mass index, haematocrit, heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and ECG readings all fell within healthy ranges. Principal component analysis-mediated correlations were carried out controlling for combined Components 1 (age, body fat % and waist-to-hip ratio) and 2 (height, HR and MAP) as control variables. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) unequivocally decreased the QRS area under the curve (AUC-QRS) regardless of the impact of control variables, with each unit increase in DHA corresponding to a 2.3-unit decrease in AUC-QRS. Mediation analysis revealed a significant overall effect of DHA on AUC-QRS, with the impact of DHA on R wave amplitude accounting for 77% of the total observed effect. Discussion: Our new findings revealed an inverse relationship between AUC-QRS with capillary blood DHA, suggesting that the association between ventricular mass and its QRS depolarising voltage is mediated by DHA. Our findings bridge a knowledge gap on the relationship between ventricular mass and ventricular efficiency. Further research will confirm whether the relationship identified in our study also exists in diseased patients.
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