Symptoms

Approach

Most arrhythmias are caused or accompanied by nutritional deficiencies, and many nutrients support a healthy heart rhythm. Although an attempt has been made to prioritize the nutrients listed below in terms of their anti-arrhythmic effect, bear in mind that they all work synergistically together to foster healthy heart function. Suboptimal levels of any of them could cause an arrhythmia.

Alternative medical thinking and nutritional medicine are very effective at reversing arrhythmias, and often obviate the necessity for the harsher and more drastic measures of conventional medicine. However, any person experiencing a severe or persistent arrhythmia should see a cardiologist.

Suggested Supplements

Magnesium acts as a cofactor in myocardial ATPase, an enzyme that regulates the electrical activity of the heart. Extensive research has clearly shown that magnesium deficiency increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmias.

In one remarkable study, for one year researchers added magnesium to the treatment regimen of patients admitted to hospital with any kind of heart problem, including angina, arrhythmia, or heart attack. That year the death rate dropped from 30% to one percent.

Magnesium depletion has been shown to cause potassium depletion, another cause of arrhythmias.

Take magnesium and potassium together in the most bioavailable form: Potassium-Magnesium Aspartate. Each capsule contains 70 mg. Magnesium and 99 mg. potassium, bound to aspartic acid, an important energy-providing amino acid. Magnesium should always be supplemented with potassium because the heart muscle cells are unable to retain potassium when there is insufficient magnesium. Take 2-4 capsules 2-4 times a day. Higher levels of magnesium can act as a laxative in some individuals, so increase dose up to “bowel tolerance,” and stay just below that dose. Target dose of 1600-2000 mg. magnesium a day can be achieved by adding non-laxating magnesium glycinate once bowel tolerance has been achieved with Potassium-Magnesium Aspartate.

Allergy or environmental sensitivity. Food allergies and chemical sensitivities can trigger atrial or ventricular fibrillation. A simple and relatively inexpensive food allergy test can be done for about $100 by Meridian Valley Labs in Kent, Washington at 425-271-8689.

Coenzyme Q-10 is effective for most types of arrhythmias, and acts to strengthen all aspects of heart action. A true coenzyme (vitamin), Coenzyme Q-10 is an essential component of our mitochondria, which produce ATP (the body’s chemical energy currency) by way of their electron transport chains. Coenzyme Q-10 is located at the core of the electron transport chain, and without Coenzyme Q-10 this source of all cellular energy is seriously impaired. Heart cells require adequate Coenzyme Q-10 to supply their huge ATP-driven energy energy requirements and to help protect them from free radical damage. Without adequate Coenzyme Q-10, mitochondrial energy production is seriously impaired, and heart health deteriorates.

Take 200-400 mg. a day of fat soluble Coenzyme Q-10.

Fish oil as Marine Lipids A huge number of studies have been done on fish oil and heart disease, and few question the efficacy of omega-3 marine lipids to prevent cardiac arrhythmias. Take 2-3 capsules twice daily.

Taurine is an amino acid that prevents arrhythmias by reducing cardiac cell membrane excitability. It accomplishes this by normalizing potassium movement in and out of the heart muscle cell.

A Selenium deficiency can cause or predispose to arrhythmia by increasing myocardial contractility and excitability. If you are taking a daily Multivitamin-Mineral supplement that contains 200 mcg. of selenium, you have adequate protection.

Individuals with arrhythmias have been shown to have essential nutrient deficiencies, especially of vitamins A, C, and E. Start with a good Multivitamin-Mineral supplement and add extra Vitamin C (one to four capsule a day), and Vitamin E (one to four capsules a day).