The Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI) recently published a new study in conjunction with The Cooper Institute on omega-3s which sheds some light on a possible cardiovascular health benefit previously not known to researchers. While it’s well-established that these fatty acids have a propensity to lower elevated triglycerides, data sourced from the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study found that they may also improve heart rate recovery. The study was published in the journal Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids.
 
13,912 healthy men and women who had preventive medical examinations at Cooper Clinic in Dallas over a 10-year period were routinely administered treadmill and exercise testing, and routinely had measurements of their omega-3 index taken, via red blood cell EPA and DHA levels. One component of the exercise test is called heart rate recovery, in reference to how quickly one’s heart rate slows down after maximal exercise. The faster it drops back down to normal levels is considered to be an indicator of heart health.
 
Researchers found that higher levels of omega-3 status were positively associated with a better heart rate recovery after maximal exercise, an effect which was more pronounced in women than men, but statistically significant in both sexes. The researchers standardized this by calculating the drop in heart rate following one minute of rest post-exercise.
 
When adjusted for age, maximal METS (a measure of cardiorespiratory fitness), BMI, and smoking status, a 2% higher omega-3 index was associated with a scaling-up of 0.35 and 0.69 bpm greater heart rate recovery in men and women respectively.
 
Previous research has associated a slow heart rate recovery with an increased risk for sudden cardiac death, FARI reports, which may explain the reason for the link that EPA and DHA levels have with a risk reduction for cardiac death.
 
“These new findings from CCLS harmonize with the known benefits of omega-3 fatty acids on resting heart rate and provide new clues to how these important fatty acids can preserve cardiac health,” Dr. William Harris, president of FARI and co-inventor of the Omega-3 Index test used in the present study, said. “These benefits on cardiac autonomic tone join other cardioprotective effects of omega-3 fatty acids, including the reduction in blood pressure, chronic inflammation, and platelet aggregation, to at least partially explain why omega-3s are good for the heart. Future treatment studies should define the omega-3 intake (and Omega-3 Index) that optimizes this aspect of cardiac function.”