Two Blood Fats Could Offer a Quick Way to Measure Omega-3 Status
Researchers used an advanced blood-testing technique (mass spectrometry-based lipidomics) to find simpler ways to estimate a person’s Omega-3 Index (O3I), which normally requires a more complicated red blood cell test. They looked at blood samples from two separate randomized, placebo-controlled trials involving fish oil and purified EPA or DHA supplements.
The team discovered that omega-3 fatty acids consumed through diet or supplements are mainly carried in the blood as specific phosphatidylcholine (PC) molecules. Two of these stood out: PC(16:0_20:5), which rose with both fish oil and EPA supplementation, and PC(16:0_22:6), which rose specifically with DHA supplementation.
When researchers added up the levels of these two PCs in blood samples, the total correlated strongly with each person’s Omega-3 Index in both trials (correlation strength around 0.71–0.77). The study also found that DHA raised the Omega-3 Index more than EPA did in young adults who started with a low omega-3 status.
What this means for you
This research suggests that measuring just two specific phosphatidylcholine molecules in a small blood sample could someday offer a faster, simpler way to estimate omega-3 status compared to traditional testing methods, and it reinforces that DHA may be more effective than EPA at raising the Omega-3 Index.
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Journal of lipid research · 2023-11-01 · DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100445
Read the original source ↗This summary is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider before making changes to your supplement routine.