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Omega and heart rate variability in overweight and obese schoolchildren
Hoda Atef Abdelsattar Ibrahim1,2, Rodina Sobhi3, Nouran Khaled Farouk3
1Lecturer, Pediatric Clinical Nutrition Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Giza, 11562, Egypt. hodaibrahim424@gmail.com.
Insights
Omega-3 supplementation improved heart rate variability and lipid profiles in overweight and obese children. This dietary intervention shows promise for enhancing cardiovascular health in this at-risk pediatric population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Nutritional Science
- Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Overweight and obesity in children increase the risk of developing chronic cardiovascular disorders.
- Heart rate variability (HRV) serves as a crucial indicator of cardiovascular health status.
- Identifying effective interventions to mitigate cardiovascular risks in obese children is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on heart rate variability in overweight and obese children.
- To assess changes in lipid profiles following omega-3 supplementation in this pediatric cohort.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 60 overweight and obese children.
- Participants were assigned to either an omega-3 supplementation group or a control group receiving standard recommendations.
- Resting 10-minute Holter ECG and lipid profiles were analyzed at baseline and after 3 months.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in heart rate variability measures (RMSSD, SDNN, pNN50) were observed in the omega-3 group compared to controls.
- Triglyceride levels decreased significantly, and HDL cholesterol levels increased significantly in the omega-3 supplemented group.
- These findings indicate a positive effect of omega-3 on cardiovascular markers.
Conclusions:
- Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may enhance cardiovascular health in overweight and obese children.
- Omega-3s demonstrate potential as a cardioprotective dietary supplement for improving HRV and lipid profiles.
- This study highlights the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in managing cardiovascular risk factors in pediatric obesity.
Background:
Overweight and obese children are risky for developing chronic cardiovascular disorders. Heart rate variability is a valuable indicator of the cardiovascular health.
Aim:
To outline the impact of supplementation of omega-3 on the variability of the heart rate.
Methods:
A randomized interventional control study has been done on 60 overweight and obese children; 30 children were assigned to the interventional group who received omega-3 with the standard recommendations and 30 children were assigned to the control group who received the standard recommendations only. Resting 10 min Holter ECG was done at the start and after 3 months of omega-3 supplementation in both groups to observe and compare the difference in the heart rate variability. In addition, lipid profiles were investigated and compared.
Results:
Difference in measures of the heart rate variability; RMSSD, SDNN, and pNN50 were increased significantly in cases compared to the controls (P value = 0.017, 0.009, and 0.043 respectively). Differences in measures of the lipid profiles differed only in triglycerides which decreased significantly in cases and HDL which increased significantly in the cases (P value = 0.006, 0.005 respectively).
Conclusion:
Our results suggested that omega-3 supplementation might improve cardiovascular health in overweight and obese children.
Impact:
This study discloses the importance of supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids as a cardioprotective dietary supplement. Omega-3 fatty acids can improve heart rate variability in overweight and obese children. Omega-3 fatty acids can also improve the lipid profiles in overweight and obese children.
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