The Effect of Marine <i>n</i>-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Heart Rate Variability in Renal Transplant Recipients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Main Authors: Hanne Sether Lilleberg, Simon Lebech Cichosz, My Svensson, Jeppe Hagstrup Christensen, Jesper Fleischer, Ivar Eide, Trond Jenssen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-11-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: marine <i>n</i> > 3 pufa; heart rate variability; resting heart rate; renal transplant recipients
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/12/2847

Resting heart rate (rHR) and heart rate variability (HRV) are non-invasive measurements that predict the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Marine <i>n</i>-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation may decrease rHR, increase HRV, and reduce the risk of SCD. To date, no studies have investigated the effect of marine <i>n</i>-3 PUFA on HRV in renal transplant recipients. In a randomized controlled trial, 132 renal transplant recipients were randomized to receive either three 1 g capsules of marine <i>n</i>-3 PUFA, each containing 460 mg/g EPA and 380 mg/g DHA, or control (olive oil) for 44 weeks. HRV was calculated in the time and frequency domains during a conventional cardiovascular reflex test (response to standing, deep breathing, and Valsalva maneuver) and during 2 min of resting in the supine position. There was no significant effect of marine <i>n</i>-3 PUFA supplementation on time-domain HRV compared with controls. rHR decreased 3.1 bpm (&#177; 13.1) for patients receiving marine <i>n</i>-3 PUFA compared to 0.8 (&#177; 11.0) in controls (<i>p</i> = 0.28). In the frequency domain HRV analyses, there was a significant change in response to standing in both high and low frequency measures, 2.9 (<i>p</i> = 0.04, 95% CI (1.1;8)) and 2.7 (<i>p</i> = 0.04, 95% CI (1.1;6.5)), respectively. In conclusion, 44 weeks of supplemental marine <i>n</i>-3 PUFAs in renal transplant recipients significantly improved the cardiac autonomic function, assessed by measuring HRV during conventional cardiovascular reflex tests.