The plasma cell membrane controls traffic in and out of cells.
Most biological activities are mediated by proteins embedded in the cell membrane bilayer; these include enzymes, receptors, carriers, pumps and the voltage gated ion channels responsible for the cardiac action potential.
It is the movement of ions across cardiac cell membranes that generates the electrical potentials that activate the heart. Cardiac action potential are understood in terms of these structural changes in the proteins that control ion fluxes across the plasma membrane.
When free fatty acids, trans-fats and fish oils are incorporated into cardiac cell membranes they alter such functioning as opening, closing and inactivation of ion channels.
Trans fatty acids have a negative affect on cardiac cell membranes. The incorporation of fish oils has a favorable affects on cardiac cell membranes.
Keep in mind like dissolves like, fats dissolve in fats. As such, to help increase the bioavailability of fish oils to cardiac cell membranes, it is important consume fish or a fish oil supplement with other fatty foods.
Source:
Trans-Fatty Acids and Sudden Cardic Death, Arnold M. Katz MD
Circulation 2002; 105;669-671
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