Research

Hormonal

High-dose omega-3 PUFA supplementation (1-4 g/d) increases the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation, particularly in elderly patients or those with prior myocardial infarction, likely by prolonging action potential duration via Piezo1 channel modulation.

If you are taking high-dose omega-3 supplements (1-4 grams daily), especially if you are older or have had a heart attack, be aware that this may increase your risk of developing atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat). Consult your doctor before maintaining high doses, as the benefits for inflammation may be offset by this specific cardiac risk.

ModerateRefutesMEDIUM confidence
A dose-related increase in AF risk as a result of omega-3 PUFA supplementation (in the range of 1-4 g/d) was found in randomized controlled trials [91]. ... Interestingly, it was observed that omega-3 PUFAs can affect Piezo1 channel activity [95] by prolonging the action potential duration that triggers AF and the delayed polarization [93].
M Sidorkiewicz · Nutrients · 2024

Why this rating

The paper is a review citing multiple RCTs and meta-analyses showing the association, but the mechanistic link to Piezo1 is presented as a hypothesis to explain the controversy.

Source

The Cardioprotective Effects of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Depends on the Balance Between Their Anti- and Pro-Oxidative Properties

M Sidorkiewicz · Nutrients · 2024

DOI 10.3390/nu16223937

narrative_reviewCited 20×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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