Predicting the effects of supplemental EPA and DHA on the omega-3 index

Abstract

Background Supplemental long-chain omega-3 (n–3) fatty acids (EPA and DHA) raise erythrocyte EPA + DHA [omega-3 index (O3I)] concentrations, but the magnitude or variability of this effect is unclear. Objective The purpose of this study was to model the effects of supplemental EPA + DHA on the O3I. Methods Deidentified data from 1422 individuals from 14 published n–3 intervention trials were included. Variables considered included dose, baseline O3I, sex, age, weight, height, chemical form [ethyl ester (EE) compared with triglyceride (TG)], and duration of treatment. The O3I was measured by the same method in all included studies. Variables were selected by stepwise regression using the Bayesian information criterion. Results Individuals supplemented with EPA + DHA (n = 846) took a mean ± SD of 1983 ± 1297 mg/d, and the placebo controls (n = 576) took none. The mean duration of supplementation was 13.6 ± 6.0 wk. The O3I increased from 4.9% ± 1.7% to 8.1% ± 2.7% in the supplemented individuals ( P < 0.0001). The final model included dose, baseline O3I, and chemical formulation type (EE or TG), and these explained 62% of the variance in response (P < 0.0001). The model predicted that the final O3I (and 95% CI) for a population like this, with a baseline concentration of 4.9%, given 850 mg/d of EPA + DHA EE would be ∼6.5% (95% CI: 6.3%, 6.7%). Gram for gram, TG-based supplements increased the O3I by about 1 percentage point more than EE products. Conclusions Of the factors tested, only baseline O3I, dose, and chemical formulation were significant predictors of O3I response to supplementation. The model developed here can be used by researchers to help estimate the O3I response to a given EPA + DHA dose and chemical form.

Omega-3 index and blood pressure responses to eating foods naturally enriched with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: a randomized controlled trial

“…The calculated red cell bioavailability of EPA and DHA from the omega-3-PUFA enriched chicken-meat and eggs was 1.4% per 100 mg/day of EPA and DHA. This appears to equal or exceed that previously recorded for oily fish (0.6-0.8%), and fish oil supplements (0.2-0.6%) 35,36 . Furthermore, adherence to the allocated diets within the study was excellent, and compares favorably with other lifestyle and pharmacological strategies for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events 37 .…”

Requisite Omega-3 HUFA Biomarker Thresholds for Preventing Murine Lupus Flaring

“…Providing sufficient levels of ω-3 supplementation is paramount to achieving ω-3 HUFA levels capable of reducing symptoms involved in lupus flares. A recent study presented an equation to predict the change in the O3I using the baseline O3I and the supplemented dose of EPA and DHA (104). These findings suggested that individuals with a baseline O3I around 4%, a level typical for many individuals consuming a Western diet, would require 1,500 mg/day EPA + DHA for 13 weeks to achieve an O3I of 8%.…”

Regulation mechanism of silkworm pupa oil PUFAs on cholesterol metabolism in hepatic cell L‐02

“…In particular, ALA, which can constitute up to 50% of silkworm pupa oil content, is a ω ‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). It is a precursor to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both of which have vital physiological roles in human brain development, cardiovascular health, and inflammatory responses . α ‐Linolenic acid is widely used in the medical field for the prevention and treatment of multiple diseases, and in the food industry as a nutritious additive in foods and beverages.…”