Fish oil not suitable in some heart cases

PORTLAND, Ore., Jun 15, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- U.S. researchers in Oregon have found that fish oil, recommended for some heart conditions, is actually unsuitable for people with abnormal heart rhythms.

Researchers at Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Oregon Health & Science University said the oil may increase these life-threatening conditions in patients with implanted defibrillators.

Dr. Merritt Raitt, one of the researchers, said his team was surprised by the results as previous studies had suggested fish oil might actually prevent life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms.

"We still believe that fish oil supplements or dietary fish intake can be beneficial by reducing sudden death in patients with a recent heart attack, as large studies have shown. However, it appears that this benefit is either not due to a reduction in abnormal heart rhythms or perhaps fish oil may have different effects on life-threatening heart rhythms in different situations," he said.

The study is to be published in the June 15 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.