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Fatty acids of plasma phospholipids and erythrocytes are reliable biomarkers of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation
Author(s) -
Rudkowska Iwona,
Plourde Mélanie,
Julien Pierre,
Lemieux Simone,
Couture Patrick,
Vohl MarieClaude
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.939.6
Subject(s) - polyunsaturated fatty acid , docosahexaenoic acid , eicosapentaenoic acid , chemistry , food science , fatty acid , medicine , biochemistry
The availability of reliable biomarkers to assess the efficacy of dietary interventions is a prerequisite of meaningful clinical studies with n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Objective To determine the suitability of using either plasma phopholipids (PL) or erythrocytes fatty acids (FA) composition as indicators of n‐3 PUFA status. Methods We measured FA % in erythrocytes and plasma PL obtained from 28 men supplemented daily with 3g of n‐3 PUFA (1.9 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 1.1 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) during 6 weeks. Results After supplementation, EPA, DHA and EPA+DHA in plasma PL or erythrocytes increased by 334%, 43%, 174% and 195%, 16%, 29%, respectively (p<0.05 versus baseline for all analyses). EPA in plasma PL was correlated to EPA in erythrocytes at baseline (r=0.77, p<0.01) and after supplementation (r=0.63, p<0.01). In addition, a correlation (r=0.47, p=0.02) was seen between the combined EPA+DHA in plasma PL and erythrocytes after supplementation. Conclusion Even tough differences do exist in the FA composition of plasma PL and erythrocytes, both biomarkers significantly increased with n‐3 PUFA supplementation over 6 weeks suggesting that they are both reliable biomarkers of n‐3 PUFA status after supplementation. Funding provided by a CIHR Operating Grant.