Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Acute Coronary Syndrome, and Sudden Death William S. Harris, PhD, and Clemens von Schacky, MD
Corresponding author William S. Harris, PhD Nutrition and Metabolic Disease Research Center, Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota Conclusions Because the risk of sudden cardiac death appears to be significantly mitigated by increasing tissue levels of EPA and DHA, assessing a marker of omega-3 status such as the omega-3 index may help identify high-risk patients. Interventions to raise omega-3 FA tissue levels (diet or supplementation) could then be instituted to achieve cardioprotective levels. This is a safe and inexpensive approach to reducing the risk of sudden cardiac death. The omega-3 index also may serve as a risk marker for ACS and other nonfatal cardiovascular events, but further research is needed to determine the extent to which altering the index by diet or supplementation will lower risk.