Heart rate variability and n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with diabetes mellitus

Hagstrup Christensen J, Aarup Skou H, Madsen T, Tørring I, Berg Schmidt E (Aalborg Hospital, Aalborg; and Hjørring/Brønderslev Hospital, Hjørring, Denmark). Heart rate variability and n ‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with diabetes mellitus. J Intern Med 2001; 249: 545–552. 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.