Fish Oil Prevents Irregular Heartbeats
(HealthScoutNews, 5/27/03)

Dr. Alexander Leef of Harvard Medical School, and team, separated and cultured cells taken from baby rat hearts. Within 2 days, the individual heart cells clumped together and spontaneously began beating simultaneously in a regular rhythm. Sodium, calcium and potassium ions moved through specific channels in the cell membranes, just as they would in an intact heart and this generated the electrical activity to sustain the "heartbeat" The researchers exposed these active heart cells to various substances, including fatty acids. The results of their tests showed that individual heart cells can store Omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in oily fish (i.e. tuna, salmon, bluefish), and that these fatty acids can block excessive sodium and calcium in the channels, thereby preventing the ions from creating abnormal electrical activity which would disrupt the rhythm.