Key result
Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation (1 g/d for 6 months) increased cardiac EPA+DHA levels by 110% (P<0.005), which highly correlated with RBC levels (r=0.82, P<0.001).
Why the study?
Does omega-3 fatty acid supplementation increase cardiac EPA+DHA levels, and do red blood cell levels correlate with cardiac levels in heart transplant recipients?
Does omega-3 fatty acid supplementation increase cardiac EPA+DHA levels, and do red blood cell levels correlate with cardiac levels in heart transplant recipients?
Effect estimate: r=0.82
p-value: p=<0.001
Red blood cell EPA+DHA levels (the Omega-3 Index) highly correlate with cardiac tissue levels and respond similarly to supplementation, establishing it as a valid surrogate for cardiac omega-3 fatty acid status.
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Supports RBC as surrogate for cardiac omega-3 enrichment; leaves open effects on clinical outcomes.
Harris et al. (2004) studied Heart transplantation (n=45). Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation vs. Baseline was evaluated on Correlation between RBC and cardiac EPA+DHA levels (r=0.82, p=<0.001). Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation (1 g/d for 6 months) increased cardiac EPA+DHA levels by 110% (P<0.005), which highly correlated with RBC levels (r=0.82, P<0.001).
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