High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Fish Oil Supplements at Reducing the Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Fish Oil Supplements at Reducing the Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation

Streaming Media

Course Code

HSC

Course Number

4930

Faculty/Instructor

Steven Burroughs

Faculty/Instructor Email

steven.burroughs@ucf.edu

About the Author

My name is Timothy Horanic, and I’m a senior majoring in Health Sciences with a minor in Biology. After graduation, I plan to attend medical school to continue pursuing my passion for healthcare and research. I would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Steven Burroughs for his guidance and support throughout this project, as well as for helping me with my applications for various awards at UCF. His mentorship has been invaluable to both my academic and professional growth.

Abstract, Summary, or Creative Statement

The purpose of my project, Evaluating the Effectiveness of Fish Oil Supplements at Reducing the Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation, was to analyze whether omega-3 fatty acids could lower the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence compared to a placebo. AF is an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm that can lead to serious complications such as stroke or heart failure. Through review and analysis of clinical trial data, patients who took fish oil experienced a lower recurrence rate of AF (46.8%) compared to the placebo group (73.4%), though the difference was not statistically significant. I also examined two supplemental studies that supported the safety and potential benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in postoperative patients. Key takeaways from this project include understanding how nutritional supplements can influence cardiovascular outcomes and the importance of proper study design, dosage variation, and statistical reporting in clinical research.

Keywords

Atrial fibrillation; fish oil; omega-3 fatty acids; cardiovascular health; arrhythmia; heart disease prevention; nutritional supplements; clinical research; electrophysiology; cardiology; medical science; health sciences; UCF research

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Fish Oil Supplements at Reducing the Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation


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