Use of Fish Oils to Prevent Atrial Mechanical Stunning and Atrial Remodeling Due to Atrial Arrhythmia

Melbourne Health

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: Atrial Flutter; Atrial Fibrillation

Treatments: Drug: Fish oil

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00232232

2003.074

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether fish oils may be of benefit to patients with certain heart rhythm disturbances called atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are two heart conditions that can be successfully treated in the hospital by an ablation (in the case of atrial flutter) or a cardioversion (in the case of atrial fibrillation). Ablation involves the application of high frequency energy waves to a particular spot in the heart. Cardioversion involves resetting the heart back to a normal rhythm with the use of an electric current.

Fish oil supplements may be of benefit to patients with heart problems. Recent evidence suggests that fish oils may benefit those with rhythm disturbances.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Chronic atrial flutter requiring radiofrequency ablation.
• Chronic atrial fibrillation requiring internal cardioversion.

Exclusion criteria

• Sinus rhythm.
• Pregnancy.
• Patients > 80 years and < 18 years of age

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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100 participants in 2 patient groups

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

No fish oil

Fish oil

Experimental group

Description:

Patients prescribed 6g/day of fish oil containing 1.8g EPA+DHA in a 1.5:1 ratio

Treatment:

Drug: Fish oil