Higher Omega-3 Index Score Associated With Better Heart Rate Recovery

Heart rate recovery is a measurement of how much the heart rate falls during the first minutes after peak exercise and is a good indicator of fitness. A recent study suggests that a higher omega-3 index may be associated with faster heart rate recovery following exercise.

Participants in the study included 13,912 adults with an average age of 50. Participants performed a maximal exercise test to determine fitness and evaluate heart rate recovery at 1 minute, 3 minutes, and 5 minutes. Omega-3 index was measured, and most participants fell within the 4% to 8% range.

Participants with a higher omega-3 index were found to have faster heart rate recovery at 1 minute and 3 minutes post-exercise compared to those with a lower omega-3 index. 

The study was conducted by researchers from the Cooper Institute, Stanford University, and the University of South Dakota.It was published online ahead of print on November 13, 2020 in the journal Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids.