Clinical Chemistry
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Clinical Chemistry 52: 2265-2272, 2006. First published October 19, 2006; 10.1373/clinchem.2006.072322
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
clinchem.2006.072322v1
52/12/2265    most recent
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (27)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Cao, J.
Right arrow Articles by Tsai, M. Y.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Cao, J.
Right arrow Articles by Tsai, M. Y.
Related Collections
Right arrow Clinical Immunology
(Clinical Chemistry. 2006;52:2265-2272.)
© 2006 American Association for Clinical Chemistry, Inc.

Lipids, Lipoproteins, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Incorporation and Clearance of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Erythrocyte Membranes and Plasma Phospholipids

Jing Cao1, Kerry A. Schwichtenberg1, Naomi Q. Hanson1 and Michael Y. Tsai1,a

1 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455.

aAddress correspondence to this author at: 420 Delaware St. SE, Mayo Mail Code 609, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0392. Fax 612-625-1121; e-mail tsaix001{at}tc.umn.edu.

Background: The sum of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 {omega}3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 {omega}3) in erythrocyte membranes, termed the omega-3 index, can indicate suboptimal intake of omega-3 fatty acids, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). To study the effects of fatty acid supplementation, we investigated the rate of incorporation and clearance of these fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes and plasma after intake of supplements.

Methods: Twenty study participants received supplementation with either fish oil (1296 mg EPA + 864 mg DHA/day) or flaxseed oil (3510 mg alpha-linolenic acid + 900 mg linoleic acid/day) for 8 weeks. We obtained erythrocyte membrane and plasma samples at weeks 0, 4, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 24 and extracted and analyzed fatty acids by gas chromatography.

Results: After 8 weeks of fish oil supplementation, erythrocyte membrane EPA and DHA increased 300% (P <0.001) and 42% (P <0.001), respectively. The mean erythrocyte omega-3 index reached a near optimal value of 7.8%, and remained relatively high until week 12. EPA and DHA showed greater increases and more rapid washout period decreases in plasma phospholipids than in erythrocyte membranes. Flaxseed oil supplementation increased erythrocyte membrane EPA to 133% (P <0.05) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5 {omega}3) to 120% (P <0.01) of baseline, but DHA was unchanged. In plasma phospholipids, EPA, DPA, and DHA showed a slight but statistically insignificant increase.

Conclusions: Erythrocyte membrane EPA+DHA increases during relatively short intervals in response to supplementation at rates related to amount of supplementation. These results may be useful to establish appropriate dosage for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation.




The following articles in journals at HighWire Press have cited this article:


Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
K. Fekete, T. Marosvolgyi, V. Jakobik, and T. Decsi
Methods of assessment of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status in humans: a systematic review
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2009; 89(6): 2070S - 2084S.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Nutr.Home page
W. S. Harris, D. Mozaffarian, M. Lefevre, C. D. Toner, J. Colombo, S. C. Cunnane, J. M. Holden, D. M. Klurfeld, M. C. Morris, and J. Whelan
Towards Establishing Dietary Reference Intakes for Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic Acids
J. Nutr., April 1, 2009; 139(4): 804S - 819S.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
D. M O'Brien, A. R Kristal, M A. Jeannet, M. J Wilkinson, A. Bersamin, and B. Luick
Red blood cell {delta}15N: a novel biomarker of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid intake
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2009; 89(3): 913 - 919.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Nutr.Home page
H. Aarsetoey, V. Ponitz, H. Grundt, H. Staines, W. S. Harris, and D. W. T. Nilsen
(n-3) Fatty Acid Content of Red Blood Cells Does Not Predict Risk of Future Cardiovascular Events following an Acute Coronary Syndrome
J. Nutr., March 1, 2009; 139(3): 507 - 513.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Nutr.Home page
H. Chung, J. A. Nettleton, R. N. Lemaitre, R. G. Barr, M. Y. Tsai, R. P. Tracy, and D. S. Siscovick
Frequency and Type of Seafood Consumed Influence Plasma (n-3) Fatty Acid Concentrations
J. Nutr., December 1, 2008; 138(12): 2422 - 2427.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
W. S Harris
The omega-3 index as a risk factor for coronary heart disease
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2008; 87(6): 1997S - 2002S.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
T. C. Coste, G. Deumer, G. Reychler, P. Lebecque, P. Wallemacq, and T. Leal
Influence of Pancreatic Status and Sex on Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Profiles in Cystic Fibrosis
Clin. Chem., February 1, 2008; 54(2): 388 - 395.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
E. K. Kabagambe, M. Y. Tsai, P. N. Hopkins, J. M. Ordovas, J. M. Peacock, I. B. Borecki, and D. K. Arnett
Erythrocyte Fatty Acid Composition and the Metabolic Syndrome: A National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute GOLDN Study
Clin. Chem., January 1, 2008; 54(1): 154 - 162.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2006 by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry.