Broiled fish curbs irregular heartbeat

Consuming broiled or baked fish seems to reduce the risk of developing an irregular heart, called atrial fibrillation. However, eating fried fish or fish sandwiches doesn't decrease the risk.Elderly people with atrial fibrillation are at a higher risk of having a stroke caused by blood clots, and are often treated with blood-thinners like Coumadin or aspirin.Researchers from the Harvard Medical School in Boston, found that the regular intake of tuna or other broiled or baked fish may be a simple and important deterrent to atrial fibrillation among older men and women.

The researching team conducted a study involving 4815 older adults who responded to dietary questionnaires in 1989 and 1990 and then were followed for 12 years to assess the incidence of atrial fibrillation. Consumption of broiled or baked fish correlated with blood levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acid, whereas intake of fried fish or fish sandwiches did not. During follow-up, 980 subjects were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. They found that people who ate broiled or baked fish at least once per week were 30 per cent less likely to develop atrial fibrillation than those who ate fish less than once per month. This benefit was largely unchanged after taking into account any history of heart attack or heart failure. The reasons for this association such as reduced blood pressure, improved heart function, or a direct effect on irregular heartbeats need to be looked into more closely.

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