Document Detail


Omega-3 fatty acids in cardiac biopsies from heart transplantation patients: correlation with erythrocytes and response to supplementation.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15353491     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) appear to reduce the risk of sudden death from myocardial infarction. This reduction is believed to occur via the incorporation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into the myocardium itself, altering the dynamics of sodium and calcium channel function. The extent of incorporation has not been determined in humans. METHODS AND RESULTS: 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 effects of 6 months of omega-3 FA supplementation (1 g/d) on the FA composition of human cardiac and buccal tissue, RBCs, and plasma lipids in 25 other patients. Cardiac and RBC EPA+DHA levels were highly correlated (r=0.82, P<0.001). Supplementation 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: Although any of the tissues examined could serve as a surrogate for cardiac omega-3 FA content, RBC EPA+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 plasma. Therefore, RBC EPA+DHA (also called the Omega-3 Index) may be the preferred surrogate for cardiac omega-3 FA status.
Authors:
William S Harris; Scott A Sands; Sheryl L Windsor; Hakim A Ali; Tracy L Stevens; Anthony Magalski; Charles B Porter; A Michael Borkon
Publication Detail:
Type:  Clinical Trial; Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2004-09-07
Journal Detail:
Title:  Circulation     Volume:  110     ISSN:  1524-4539     ISO Abbreviation:  Circulation     Publication Date:  2004 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-09-21     Completed Date:  2005-06-07     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0147763     Medline TA:  Circulation     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1645-9     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Mid America Heart Institute, Saint Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, Mo, USA. wharris@saint-lukes.org
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Animals
Cheek
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / pharmacology
Dietary Supplements
Docosahexaenoic Acids / analysis
Erythrocytes / chemistry*
Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage,  analysis*,  blood,  pharmacology
Female
Fish Oils / administration & dosage,  pharmacology
Fishes
Heart / drug effects
Heart Catheterization
Heart Transplantation*
Humans
Lipids / blood
Lipoproteins / blood
Male
Meat
Middle Aged
Mouth Mucosa / chemistry,  drug effects
Myocardium / chemistry*,  pathology
Organ Specificity
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; 0/Fatty Acids, Omega-3; 0/Fish Oils; 0/Lipids; 0/Lipoproteins; 25167-62-8/Docosahexaenoic Acids
Comments/Corrections
Erratum In:
Circulation. 2004 Nov 9;110(19):3156

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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