William S. Harris|Stephen A. Varvel|James V. Pottala|G. Russell Warnick|Joseph P. McConnell
Comparative effects of an acute dose of fish oil on omega-3 fatty acid levels in red blood cells versus plasma: Implications for clinical utility
University of South Dakota|Medical Diagnostic Laboratories (United States)|Medical Diagnostic Laboratories (United States)|University of South Dakota|Medical Diagnostic Laboratories (United States)|Medical Diagnostic Laboratories (United States)
omega3 fatty acid n3 fa biostatus estimated red blood cell rbc membranes plasma matrix exhibits lower withinperson variability less affected acute dose n3 fa preferred clinical practicewe compared acute effects large dose n3 fa rbc plasma levels eicosapentaenoic acid epa plus docosahexaenoic acid dhahealthy volunteers n 20 given 4 capsules containing 36 g n3 fa standardized breakfast blood samples drawn 0 2 4 6 8 24 hours epa dha content rbc membranes plasma latter expressed percentage total fa concentration determined general linear mixed models used analyze mean response profiles fa changes time plasma rbcsat 6 hours load plasma concentration epa dha increased 47 95 confidence interval ci 24 73 plasma epa dha percentage total fa 19 95 ci 47 36 rbc epa dha percentage composition unchanged 06 95 ci 26 15 24 hours change plasma epa dha markers 10fold greater rbcsan acute dose n3 fa eg meal oily fish fish oil supplements taken within day doctors visit elevate levels epa dha plasma whether expressed percentage concentration rbc membranes similar hemoglobin a1c affected acute glycemic deviation rbcs provide reliable estimate patients chronic epa dha status plasma