摘要
Background Omega 3 fatty acids(FAs) appear to reduce the risk of sudden deat h from myocardial infarction. This reduction is believed to occur via the incorp oration of eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into the my ocardium itself, altering the dynamics of sodium and calcium channel function. T he extent of incorporation has not been determined in humans. Methods and Result s We first determined the correlation between red blood cell (RBC) and cardiac omega 3 FA levels in 20 heart transplant recipients. We then examined the effec ts of 6 months of omega 3 FA supplementation (1 g/d) on the FA composition of h uman cardiac and buccal tissue, RBCs, and plasma lipids in 25 other patients. Ca rdiac and RBC EPA+DHA levels were highly correlated (r=0.82, P< 0.001). Supplem entation increased EPA+DHA levels in cardiac tissue by 110%, in RBCs by 101%, in plasma by 139%, and in cheek cells by 73%(P< 0.005 versus baseline for all ; responses among tissues were not significantly different). Conclusions Althou gh any of the tissues examined could serve as a surrogate for cardiac omega 3 F A content,RBCEPA+DHA was highly correlated with cardiac EPA+DHA;the RBC omega 3 response to supplementation was similar to that of the heart;RBCs are easily collected and analyzed; and they have a less variable FA composition than plasm a. Therefore,RBC EPA+DHA(also called the Omega 3 Index) may be the preferred s urrogate for cardiac omega 3 FA status.
Background Omega 3 fatty acids(FAs) appear to reduce the risk of sudden deat h from myocardial infarction. This reduction is believed to occur via the incorp oration of eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into the my ocardium itself, altering the dynamics of sodium and calcium channel function. T he extent of incorporation has not been determined in humans. Methods and Result s We first determined the correlation between red blood cell (RBC) and cardiac omega 3 FA levels in 20 heart transplant recipients. We then examined the effec ts of 6 months of omega 3 FA supplementation (1 g/d) on the FA composition of h uman cardiac and buccal tissue, RBCs, and plasma lipids in 25 other patients. Ca rdiac and RBC EPA+DHA levels were highly correlated (r=0.82, P< 0.001). Supplem entation increased EPA+DHA levels in cardiac tissue by 110%, in RBCs by 101%, in plasma by 139%, and in cheek cells by 73%(P< 0.005 versus baseline for all ; responses among tissues were not significantly different). Conclusions Althou gh any of the tissues examined could serve as a surrogate for cardiac omega 3 F A content,RBCEPA+DHA was highly correlated with cardiac EPA+DHA;the RBC omega 3 response to supplementation was similar to that of the heart;RBCs are easily collected and analyzed; and they have a less variable FA composition than plasm a. Therefore,RBC EPA+DHA(also called the Omega 3 Index) may be the preferred s urrogate for cardiac omega 3 FA status.
