The pro- or antiarrhythmic actions of polyunsaturated fatty acids and of cholesterol

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion activates the Na+/H+ exchanger, which induces arrhythmias, cell damage, and eventually cell death. Inhibition of the exchanger reduces cell damage and lowers the incidence of arrhythmias after ischemia-reperfusion. The ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are also known to be cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic during ischemia-reperfusion challenge. Some of the action of PUFAs may occur via inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchanger. The purpose of our study was to determine the capacity for selected PUFAs to alter cardiac sarcolemmal (SL) Na+/H+exchange. Cardiac membranes highly enriched in SL vesicles were exposed to 10–100 μM eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) or docosahexanoic acid (DHA). H+-dependent 22Na+ uptake was inhibited by 30–50% after treatment with ≥50 μM EPA or ≥25 μM DHA. This was a specific effect of these PUFAs, because 50 μM linoleic acid or linolenic acid had no significant effect on Na+/H+ exchange. The SL vesicles did not exhibit an increase in passive Na+ efflux after PUFA treatment. In conclusion, EPA and DHA can potently inhibit cardiac SL Na+/H+ exchange at physiologically relevant concentrations. This may explain, in part, their known cardioprotective effects and antiarrhythmic actions during ischemia-reperfusion.

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Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) Might Reduce Hot Flushes: An Indication From Two Controlled Trials on Soy Isoflavones Alone and With a PUFA Supplement

Yearbook of Obstetrics Gynecology and Women s Health ◽

10.1016/s1090-798x(08)70555-1 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 2006 ◽

pp. 385-387

Author(s):

L.P. Shulman

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Soy Isoflavones ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Hot Flushes ◽

Pufa Supplement

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A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of polyunsaturated fatty acids efficacy in adolescents with anorexia nervosa

Pharmacotherapy in Psychiatry and Neurology ◽

10.33450/fpn.2020.06.001 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 95-106

Author(s):

Agnieszka M. Piróg-Balcerzak ◽

Anna K. Bażyńska ◽

Katarzyna Biernacka ◽

Joanna Brągoszewska ◽

Lidia Popek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Anorexia Nervosa ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Small Sample ◽

Female Adolescent ◽

Eating Attitude ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Eat 26

Objective. Omega–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were tested in adolescent depression and in several neurodevelopmental disorders with partial success. Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterised by deficiencies in fatty food intake and frequent comorbidity, including depressive and cognitive symptoms. Thus supplementation with PUFAs may be beneficial in this group of patients. The aim of the study was to assess whether PUFAs as an add-on treatment is associated with better improvement of body mass index (BMI) and psychopathological symptoms than placebo in patients with AN. Method. 61 female adolescent inpatients with AN were randomly allocated to omega–3 PUFAs supplementation or placebo for 10 weeks. Patients also participated in the behavioural programme and eclectic psychotherapy (treatment as usual, TAU). At baseline and follow-up visits, patients’ BMI and psychopathology were assessed with Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI), Patient Global Impression Scale (PGI), and Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26). Results. After 10 weeks, both groups showed improvement in all parameters. Improvement in CGI scores was observed greater in placebo vs. PUFA-s group (p = 0.015) while other differences were not statistically significant. Omega–3 PUFAs supplementation appears not to be effective as an add-on treatment in inpatient adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa. Conclusions. The results should be analysed with caution due to small sample size and heterogeneity in TAU. As the TAU turned out to be highly effective, additional therapeutic effect of PUFA might not be visible. Nevertheless, that does not explain the tendency for better improvement in the placebo group.

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