A Guide to Measuring and Interpreting Omega-3 (n-3) Fatty Acid Status in Relation to Health

Date

2024

Authors

Gibson, R.A.
Simmonds, L.A.
Liu, G.
Coates, P.
Lam, K.
Ranieri, E.
Mas, E.
Makrides, M.

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Clinical Biochemist Reviews, 2024; 44(1):29-36

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Robert A. Gibson, Lucy A. Simmonds, Ge Liu, Penelope Coates, Khoa Lam, Enzo Ranieri, Emilie Mas, Maria Makrides

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Abstract

Dietary fats can play a role in life-long health outcomes. The role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in health and disease has been a keen focus of researchers for over 50 years. Recently the focus of this research has turned to the beneficial role of the omega-3 (n-3) PUFA on health outcomes including heart disease and the prevention of preterm birth. From the standpoint of clinical practice, there has been a call for reliable screening tests that can predict risk. Two tests, both involving the measurement of n-3 PUFA in blood or its fractions, have become prominent, namely, the ‘omega-3 index’ as a predictor of cardiovascular disease risk and the ‘total n-3’ pregnancy test as a predictor of risk of premature birth. We provide an overview for pathologists, clinicians and nutritionists of the methodology and terminology related to the n-3 biomarkers to aid their interpretation of proposed cut-point values for health risk.

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