Low vitamin E and recurrence of AF

Low vitamin E and recurrence of AF

Domenico Ferro, Pasquale Franciosa, Roberto Cangemi, Roberto Carnevale, Pasquale Pignatelli, Lorenzo Loffredo, Ludovica Perri, Elisa Catasca and Francesco Violi from Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy have come up with evidence [1] that low serum vitamin E levels are associated with recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardioversion. They hypothesise that vitamin E being an antioxidant, low vitamin E levels would correlate with oxidative stress which could have a role in recurrence of atrial fibrillation after cardioversion. The study involved one hundred and forty four patients who had undergone electrical cardioversion with biphasic shocks for non valvar persistent atrial fibrillation. During the three month follow up ninety four patients were in sinus rhythm while fifty had recurrence of atrial fibrillation. Serum vitamin E levels were lower in patients with recurrence of AF (p<0.001). Higher left atrial diameter, urinary isoprostanes, high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) and sNOX2-dp (soluble NOX2-derived peptide) were also noted in those with recurrence of atrial fibrillation after cardioversion.

Authors concluded that as vitamin E correlates inversely with oxidative stress, the findings of the study reinforces the hypothesis that there is an interplay between oxidative stress and atrial fibrillation.

Reference

1. Domenico Ferro, Pasquale Franciosa, Roberto Cangemi, Roberto Carnevale, Pasquale Pignatelli, Lorenzo Loffredo, Ludovica Perri, Elisa Catasca, Francesco Violi. Serum levels of vitamin E are associated with early recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electric cardioversion. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2012 Apr;5(2):327-33.