Fingertip Whole Blood as an Indicator of Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Changes during Dose-Response Supplementation in Women: Comparison with Plasma and Erythrocyte Fatty Acids.

Barbara J Meyer,Cassandra Sparkes,Robert A Gibson,Paul L Else,Andrew J Sinclair

doi:10.3390/nu13051419

Abstract

The sensitivity of fingertip whole blood to reflect habitual dietary and dose-dependent supplemental omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LCPUFA) intake in premenopausal women was compared to that of venous erythrocytes and plasma fatty acids. Samples were obtained from women in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which premenopausal women (n = 53) were supplemented with DHA-rich tuna oil capsules and/or placebo (Sunola oil) capsules (6 capsules per day) for 8 weeks to achieve doses of either 0, 0.35, 0.7 or 1.05 g/day n-3 LCPUFA. All blood biomarkers were very similar in their ability to reflect dietary n-3 LCPUFA intake (r = 0.38–0.46 for EPA and DHA intake), and in their dose-dependent increases in n-3 LCPUFA levels after supplementation (R2 = 0.41–0.51 for dose effect on biomarker EPA and DHA levels (mol %)). Fingertip whole blood is an effective alternative to erythrocytes and plasma as a biomarker n-3 LCPUFA intake in premenopausal women.

Highlights

Accepted: 21 April 2021Blood levels of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) are related to the risk of death from coronary heart disease (CHD) [1,2,3]
The n-3 LCPUFA intakes from the habitual diet, in addition to DHA-rich tuna oil supplements, showed moderate to strong associations with their levels in fingertip whole blood, erythrocytes and plasma after supplementation (Table 1)
Dietary + supplemental intake of EPA+DHA was strongly associated with post-supplemental EPA+DHA to relatively the same degree in fingertip whole blood, plasma and erythrocytes (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Blood levels of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) are related to the risk of death from coronary heart disease (CHD) [1,2,3]. Measures of an individual’s n-3 LCPUFA status, such as the Omega-3 Index (EPA+DHA content in erythrocytes as a percentage of total fatty acids), show promise as a tool to reduce. The mother mobilises DHA at the critical time of the neural tube closure (prior to 29 days of gestation) [6], as at that time there is a high demand for neural outgrowth that requires DHA [7]. The brain accrues DHA during gestation [8], and together with arachidonic acid (AA), DHA is required for proper neurological development. It has been shown that pregnant women with a low Omega-3

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