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Published on: July 20, 2022
The Role of Circulating Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Cardiomyopathy: A Machine
Jakob Versnjak1,2,3, Giuseppe Trimarchi4,5,2, Anna Foryst-Ludwig4,5,2
1Institute of Computer-assisted Cardiovascular Medicine, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
European Journal of Heart Failure
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were lower in individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF). PUFA supplementation was linked to reduced AF prevalence, particularly in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Nutritional Science
- Metabolomics
Background:
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have known cardioprotective effects but also potential arrhythmogenic links.
- Individuals with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are predisposed to atrial fibrillation (AF).
- Concerns exist regarding PUFA effects on AF risk in vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between circulating PUFA profiles and AF prevalence and incidence.
- To examine the impact of PUFA supplementation on AF risk.
- To explore these associations in patients with HFpEF.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 483,372 UK Biobank participants using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics.
- Application of systematic deconfounding, supervised classification, and generalized structural equation modeling (GSEM).
- Adjustment for anthropometric, demographic, and genetic risk factors.
Main Results:
- Lower plasma PUFA concentrations were observed in individuals with AF, atrial cardiomyopathy (AtCM), and HFpEF.
- Higher omega-6 (ω-6) and omega-3 (ω-3) concentrations were associated with lower AF incidence, while higher docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) showed a modest adverse association.
- PUFA supplementation correlated with higher circulating PUFAs and significantly lower AF prevalence, especially in cholesterol-lowering medication (CLM) users and women.
Conclusions:
- Circulating PUFAs are diminished in AF, AtCM, and HFpEF.
- While ω-3 and ω-6 show favorable associations, DHA warrants careful consideration due to a potential link with AF incidence.
- PUFA supplementation appears associated with reduced AF prevalence, even in CLM users and HFpEF patients, suggesting a potential therapeutic role.