Short term omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation induces favorable changes in right ventricle function and diastolic filling pressure in patients with chronic heart failure; A randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3-PUFAs) seem to favorably affect cardiac hemodynamics and may benefit the clinical course of heart failure patients. The role of omega 3-PUFAs supplementation on the left and right ventricular function of patients with chronic compensated systolic heart failure, under optimal treatment, was studied.

Methods: 205 consecutive patients with chronic compensated heart failure, due to ischemic (IHF) or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)-NYHA classification I-III, under optimal medical treatment, were enrolled. Participants were 1-to-1 randomized on 1000 mg omega 3-PUFA supplementation or no supplementation, in a non-blinded fashion. Echocardiographic assessment was performed at first visit and 6 months after. Plasma BNP and serum creatinine levels were also measured.

Results: As compared with the control group, BNP levels in omega 3-PUFA intervention group were 34.6% lower (p=0.001); end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricle dimensions were decreased by 2.5% (p=0.047) and 3.7% (p=0.01), maximum diameter of left atrium was decreased by 8.4% (p=0.004), left atrium ejection fraction was ameliorated by 6.03% (p=0.021) and as regards tissue Doppler parameters, TDI_Etv/Atv was decreased in omega 3-PUFA intervention group by 6.3% (p=0.038). Moreover, improvement in diastolic indices was more prominent in subjects with DCM as compared to IHF patients.

Conclusion: Omega 3-PUFA supplementation was associated with improved left diastolic function and decreased BNP levels in patients with chronic heart failure. These findings suggest a beneficial role of omega 3-PUFAs on the hemodynamic course of patients with systolic heart failure.