Assessing the link between omega-3 fatty acids, cardiac arrest, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

Taha, Ameer Y.; Ciobanu, F; Saxena, Anjali; Burnham, W. McIntyre

doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.10.012

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…Furthermore, substantial evidence from epidemiological and case-control studies indicates that omega-3 reduces the risk of cardiovascular mortality [32]. Because SUDEP is thought to occur during or shortly after a seizure, Taha et al [33] have proposed that omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the incidence of SUDEP through their anticonvulsant effects. Using the pilocarpine model of epilepsy, we have shown that chronic omega-3 administration promotes neuroprotection and neuronal plasticity [17].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High serum levels of proinflammatory markers during epileptogenesis. Can omega-3 fatty acid administration reduce this process?

Gouveia

Sousa

Almeida

et al. 2015

Epilepsy & Behavior

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During the epileptogenic process, several events may occur, such as an important activation of the immune system in the central nervous system. The response to seizure activity results in an inflammation in the brain as well as in the periphery. Moreover, CRP and cytokines may be able to interact with numerous ligands in response to cardiac injury caused by sympathetic stimulation in ictal and postictal states. Based on this, we measured the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines during acute, silent, and chronic phases of rats submitted to the pilocarpine model of epilepsy. We have also analyzed the effect of a chronic treatment of these rats with omega-3 fatty acid in CRP and cytokine levels, during an epileptic focus generation. C-reactive protein and cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α presented high concentration in the blood of rats, even well after the occurrence of SE. We found reduced levels of CRP and all proinflammatory cytokines in the blood of animals with chronic seizures, treated with omega-3, when compared with those treated with vehicle solution. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that the omega-3 is an effective treatment to prevent SUDEP occurrence due to its capability to act as an anti-inflammatory compound, reducing the systemic inflammatory parameters altered by seizures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High serum levels of proinflammatory markers during epileptogenesis. Can omega-3 fatty acid administration reduce this process?

Gouveia

Sousa

Almeida

et al. 2015

Epilepsy & Behavior

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“…Clinical assessment of dietary n-3 fatty acid background and circulating DHA status is warranted in intervention studies addressing the role of DHA supplementation in people with epilepsy. Understanding the role of DHA in raising seizure thresholds may reduce seizure incidence and the risk of SUDEP in at-risk individuals (56–58).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Deprivation Does Not Alter Seizure Thresholds but May Prevent the Anti-seizure Effects of Injected Docosahexaenoic Acid in Rats

et al. 2019

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Background: Brain concentrations of omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) have been reported to positively correlate with seizure thresholds in rodent seizure models. It is not known whether brain DHA depletion, achieved by chronic dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) deficiency, lowers seizure thresholds in rats.Objective: The present study tested the hypothesis that lowering brain DHA concentration with chronic dietary n-3 PUFA deprivation in rats will reduce seizure thresholds, and that compared to injected oleic acid (OA), injected DHA will raise seizure thresholds in rats maintained on n-3 PUFA adequate and deficient diets.Methods: Rats (60 days old) were surgically implanted with electrodes in the amygdala, and subsequently randomized to the AIN-93G diet containing adequate levels of n-3 PUFA derived from soybean oil or an n-3 PUFA-deficient diet derived from coconut and safflower oil. The rats were maintained on the diets for 37 weeks. Afterdischarge seizure thresholds (ADTs) were measured every 4–6 weeks by electrically stimulating the amygdala. Between weeks 35 and 37, ADTs were assessed within 1 h of subcutaneous OA or DHA injection (600 mg/kg). Seizure thresholds were also measured in a parallel group of non-implanted rats subjected to the maximal pentylenetetrazol (PTZ, 110 mg/kg) seizure test. PUFA composition was measured in the pyriform-amygdala complex of another group of non-implanted rats sacrificed at 16 and 32 weeks.Results: Dietary n-3 PUFA deprivation did not significantly alter amygdaloid seizure thresholds or latency to PTZ-induced seizures. Acute injection of OA did not alter amygdaloid ADTs of rats on the n-3 PUFA adequate or deficient diets, whereas acute injection of DHA significantly increased amygdaloid ADTs in rats on the n-3 PUFA adequate control diet as compared to rats on the n-3 PUFA deficient diet (P < 0.05). Pyriform-amygdala DHA percent composition did not significantly differ between the groups, while n-6 docosapentaenoic acid, a marker of n-3 PUFA deficiency, was significantly increased by 2.9-fold at 32 weeks.Conclusion: Chronic dietary n-3 PUFA deficiency does not alter seizure thresholds in rats, but may prevent the anti-seizure effects of DHA.

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“…Other infrequently used products mentioned in the studies that have anecdotally been reported to have beneficial effects on seizures, epilepsy comorbidities or complications of epilepsy are skullcap (anticonvulsant, sedative [45]), grapefruit juice (sedative [46]), hops (sedative [47]), and omega-3 fatty acids (treatment of epilepsy and prevention of SUDEP [48]). However, others have been linked to pro-convulsive effects, such as ephedra and caffeine [49].…”

Section: Use Of Natural Products In Countries With Western/conventmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural Products in Epilepsy—the Present Situation and Perspectives for the Future

Ekstein

Schachter

2010

Pharmaceuticals

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More efficacious and better tolerated treatments for epilepsy are clearly needed. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has a long history of use in certain parts of the world and has gained increasing interest over the last decades in Western countries. In countries with a Western-based type of medical system, people with epilepsy (PWE) take natural products or engage in other forms of CAM mainly to enhance general health, but also to prevent seizures or to alleviate symptoms of comorbidities or side effects of antiepileptic medications. In other countries, well developed medical systems, such as traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, are often the basis for treating PWE. Based on anecdotal reports of efficacy in PWE, natural products from these and other traditions are increasingly being studied in animal models of epilepsy, and candidates for further clinical development have been identified. It is likely, therefore, that natural products will be further evaluated for safety, tolerability and efficacy in PWE with drug-resistant seizures.

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Assessing the link between omega-3 fatty acids, cardiac arrest, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy

Cited by 8 publications

References 76 publications

High serum levels of proinflammatory markers during epileptogenesis. Can omega-3 fatty acid administration reduce this process?

High serum levels of proinflammatory markers during epileptogenesis. Can omega-3 fatty acid administration reduce this process?

Dietary Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Deprivation Does Not Alter Seizure Thresholds but May Prevent the Anti-seizure Effects of Injected Docosahexaenoic Acid in Rats

Natural Products in Epilepsy—the Present Situation and Perspectives for the Future

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