New Study: Fish Oil Increases Risk of A-Fib

I've been taking large amounts of very high quality fish oil supplements daily for years. I never took them for heart issues, I always took them as just another general supplement to assist with my overall health (i.e. supposed lower body inflammation, lower triglycerides, etc.). By large amounts I mean as much as 4 grams per day (that's total EPA and DHA) but in recent years "only" about 2 grams per day. And yes, I've had a-fib for 20+ years now and have had 3 ablations

Then I ran across this study today:
[www.cnn.com]

I don't believe for a minute the fish oil caused my a-fib because I had my first a-fib episode before I even knew that fish oil supplements were a thing. I started taking fish oil long after I had my first episode. Second, I have a strong genetic connection to a-fib (runs throughout my family).

The question I have is, are my fish oil supplements hurting or harming things for me as it pertains specifically to a-fib? I've never had palpitations or an a-fib episode after taking fish oil supplements so there definitely isn't a direct cause and effect for me, but is it possible the fish oil is making things worse long term even though I don't feel anything immediately (i.e. no palpitations, a-fib, etc.)?

What I also don't understand is that the article doesn't say how fish oil increases risk of a-fib. That would be really good information to know! It also doesn't say what it does for a-fib if you take fish oil AFTER you've already been diagnosed with a-fib. Does it make things worse, better, no impact?

Again, I don't take fish oil for my heart health so I can take it or leave it as far as that is concerned, but if it has any chance of making my a-fib worse then I might have to rethink things.

Finally, a-fib is a disease, correct? Once you have it, you have it, correct? It seems to me that having to battle a-fib for 20+ years, I'm going to be battling it no matter what I eat or drink. A-fib is a disease without a true cure so how could anything really affect it at this point? It can only be caged at this point (i.e. ablation). But if eliminating fish oil reduces the risk of having a-fib episodes, then maybe I should consider that.

Travis

AF is a an electrically disordered heart. If you were to reverse any interventions, whether ablation or medications, you'd be back in AF in short order.

You can exacerbate any condition. This research suggests that taking copious quantities of fish oil might make things even worse. IOW, turn your paroxysmal AF into persistent or permanent AF. I can't imagine anyone with any knowledge of AF wanting that.

There are better ways to ingest alpha-linolenic acid. Many nuts have them, avocados, fresh fish (tinned sardines anyone?). I think supplementation might make sense for some, for some conditions, at some age. For most adults who are healthy, and presumably this is because they live well and sensibly, including a proper balance diet, supplements are another processed 'food' that most of us are probably better off without.

Fish oil is directly related to PACs for me. I’ve experimented with it so many times and always get that result.

Hi Travis - I recall reading a caveat about fish oil. Contaminants in the water of fish farms can be a consideration and for some, can cause PACs. etc.

Not sure if I have the resource, but the topic was the impurities that can be in some types/brands of fish oil... ie/contaminants... as in harvested oil from fish in commercial beds where fish are fed various types of feed that contain contaminants and poor water quality... compared to 'wild-caught' fish... but even there - depending on what type of water/environment they lived in. High-quality fish oil is typically more costly.

Jackie

I have consumed lots of fish oil. I've measured my omega 3 index as high as 18 (this is very high). When I first measured my omega 3 index, it was around 3 as I recall (very low). With my genetics, my health span consultant MD suggested I should keep my index 12 or above. This was probably a decade into my afib journey. I've lowered the fish oil consumption in the last four years as I started consuming a plasmalogen precursor, which is algae oil derived, but from an omega 3 perspective would count like fish out. Certainly high fish or fish oil consumption was not an issue for the first 10 years of afib and I've noticed no association with it subsequently. I didn't read the CNN link, but have read a number of the actual studies and the absolute probability increase (not relative risk) was nominal. Beyond violating my self prescribed (and empirically determined) exercise limits as a trigger, the afib associations I've noticed are: missing my daily (large) magnesium dose, consuming above my empirically self imposed limit of ~500 mg of Ca++/day (which lowers the threshold dramatically for "no-trigger" afib for me) and both mRNA and non-mRNA CV-19 vaccines, which I've decided I don't need more of in the future.

"Finally, a-fib is a disease, correct? Once you have it, you have it, correct? It seems to me that having to battle a-fib for 20+ years, I'm going to be battling it no matter what I eat or drink. A-fib is a disease without a true cure so how could anything really affect it at this point? It can only be caged at this point (i.e. ablation)."

Sounds a little pessimistic coming from someone like yourself that has applied their minds towards overcoming AFIB.
Have you tried CA+ reduction protocol outlines by Steve Carr and implemented by several of us here? GeorgeN and several others have reported noticeable improvement. As for myself, I am coming up on 20 years battling AFIB. Early on, I got about a 50% reduction in my AFIB burden by simply taking Mg supplements. Later, about 5 years ago, I reduced my AFIB by another 80% after I followed the CA+ reduction protocol, and also added in Vit K2.

I may be an anomaly, and it took much effort and many ECV's, but I went from from being in AFIB most all the time, to persistent, then to primarily paroxysmal, now going on NSR constant over a year now, and I have only had 1 episode in the last 2.5 years. I never got an Ablation.

I have had AFIB for over 45 years. It has quite a challenge at times to manage especially back then. Not many options for treatment. I have been experimented on over the years by the best. Have had 1 ablation and one mini maze and currently stable and paroxysmal, but still on low dose of antiarrhythmic medications. I had hoped to get off all meds but looks like that will not be in the cards for me.

This is a journey for sure. Some of us may see a "cure" in their lifetimes.

Given the projection of folks projected to present with AFIB over the next 5-10 years, I certainly hope the interventions speed up. And research finding it is not just in "older folks" anymore. I take a boat load of supplements, some I feel help, some not so sure. Some of the supplements work for some folks and not for others. Every person who has this can identify for the most part what triggers and what helps. It is a trial-and-error intervention. Some folks have found relief with acupuncture, meditation, yoga etc. It is an individual path. I am still here, so something has worked so far. I have never let this condition rule my goals. I have had a great life.

Must be something in fish oil as mentioned that increases AF otherwise people who predominantly eat fish would all or at least the majority have AF. Do they???

It's a great question, Joe. All I can come up with is that something about the process, the product itself, or the way it is encapsulated, causes some people to develop AF. You are right to wonder why so few coastal communities haven't been identified as being in danger due to high reported rates of AF. Surely this has been looked at by this point.

Here is a study on this. Personally, I experienced fast/irregular heartbeat when consume fish oil. Even higher dose of K2 + D3 cause me same problem.

[www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Quote
The Anti-Fib
"Finally, a-fib is a disease, correct? Once you have it, you have it, correct? It seems to me that having to battle a-fib for 20+ years, I'm going to be battling it no matter what I eat or drink. A-fib is a disease without a true cure so how could anything really affect it at this point? It can only be caged at this point (i.e. ablation)."

Sounds a little pessimistic coming from someone like yourself that has applied their minds towards overcoming AFIB.
Have you tried CA+ reduction protocol outlines by Steve Carr and implemented by several of us here? GeorgeN and several others have reported noticeable improvement. As for myself, I am coming up on 20 years battling AFIB. Early on, I got about a 50% reduction in my AFIB burden by simply taking Mg supplements. Later, about 5 years ago, I reduced my AFIB by another 80% after I followed the CA+ reduction protocol, and also added in Vit K2.

I may be an anomaly, and it took much effort and many ECV's, but I went from from being in AFIB most all the time, to persistent, then to primarily paroxysmal, now going on NSR constant over a year now, and I have only had 1 episode in the last 2.5 years. I never got an Ablation.

WOW. thanks for sharing.
impressive to go from a high AF burden to such a long time in NSR. makes me want to consider K2. I've just gone 14 months in NSR yay - the longest break since the paroxysmal started 24 years ago. Magnesium and vit D and re-framing old stress patterns has been my magic wand



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/29/2024 02:28AM by strongHeart.