Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in Heart Diseases and Arrhythmia and Ventricular Fibrillation - Clinical Trials Registry

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Behavioral: dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Detailed Description

BACKGROUND:

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are common causes of the 300,000 sudden deaths occurring in the United States each year. Most of these victims have associated heart disease, most commonly coronary artery disease. Populations consuming considerable quantities of fish and marine mammals have lower than expected mortality rates from coronary disease. Interventional and observational trials have indicated that fatty fish consumption decreases the death rate from coronary artery disease, in part by reducing the number of sudden deaths. Animal and tissue culture studies both support the hypothesis that these beneficial effects are from the antiarrhythmic properties of n-3 long chained polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids).

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

Prospective, randomized, double blinded trial. Survivors of VT and VF with an implantable defibrillator were randomized, 100 to dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) or 100 to a placebo. Adherence to the supplement were assessed by measurements of plasma, red cell, and adipose tissue n-3 fatty acid concentrations. The primary outcome variable was the incidence of recurrent VT or VF, but secondary variables were also assessed using serial implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) assessment, correlation of the rhythms with the biochemical measurements of n-3 fatty acids, hospitalization rates and quality of life. The (ICD) was the best protection available to patients and stored rhythm electrograms which allowed documentation of rhythm endpoints.

The study completion date listed in this record was obtained from the "End Date" entered in the Protocol Registration and Results System (PRS) record.

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

No eligibility criteria

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Masking: Double

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Raitt MH, Connor WE, Morris C, Kron J, Halperin B, Chugh SS, McClelland J, Cook J, MacMurdy K, Swenson R, Connor SL, Gerhard G, Kraemer DF, Oseran D, Marchant C, Calhoun D, Shnider R, McAnulty J. Fish oil supplementation and risk of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation in patients with implantable defibrillators: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2005 Jun 15;293(23):2884-91. doi: 10.1001/jama.293.23.2884.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

February 1, 1999

Study Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2004

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 9, 2000

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria