Higher omega-3 index is associated with more rapid heart rate recovery in healthy men and women
Stephen W.Farrell Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids Volume 163, December 2020, 102206
Highlights
• Omega-3 fatty acids and heart rate recovery are important for cardiovascular health.
• We observed a significant association between the two in 13,912 healthy adults.
• This association was independent of fitness level and was steeper in women.
• These findings suggest a potential cardioprotective mechanism for n-3 PUFA.
Background
Previous studies have suggested that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) can favorably influence cardiac autonomic tone. However, data regarding n-3 PUFA status and heart rate recovery (HRR) in healthy adults are sparse.
Purpose
To examine the association between n-3 PUFA status and HRR.
Methods
Participants included 13,912 patients who underwent a comprehensive examination at the Cooper Clinic, Dallas TX. Fitness was determined from a maximal exercise test. HRR was calculated by subtracting the heart rate at 1, 3, and 5 min of an active recovery period from the maximal heart rate. Participants were categorized as having a low (<4%), normal (4–8%) or optimal (>8%) Omega-3 Index (O3I) (i.e., erythrocyte levels of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids). Multiple linear regression was used to model the association between O3I and HRR adjusting for age, maximal METs, body mass index, and smoking by sex.
Results
Higher categories of O3I were associated with greater HRR at 1 min (men: 23.7, 23.9, 24.6 beats/min; women: 23.9, 24.6, 25.9 and 3 min (men: 52.4, 52.9, 53.6 beats/min; women: 51.9, 53.4, 54.6), p trend <0.01 for all. Corresponding HRR at 5 min were (men: 60.0, 60.2, 60.7 beats/min, p trend=0.09; women: 59.4, 60.8, 61.6, p trend <0.001). The HRR gradients across O3I categories were steeper in women than men at 1, 3, and 5 min (p<0.03 for all sex x O3I category interactions with HRR).
Conclusions
A direct relationship between HRR and O3I values was observed in both men and women, with a steeper gradient in women. These findings suggest a potential cardioprotective mechanism for n-3 PUFA.