The Omega-3 Index: a new risk factor for death from coronary heart disease?
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Biomarker validation experiments combined with secondary analysis of published prevention trials
PubMed 15208005 · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.02.030
What was done
Clinical and laboratory experiments were performed to validate the red blood cell EPA and DHA level (termed the Omega-3 Index) as a predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. The relationship between this marker and CHD death, particularly sudden cardiac death, was evaluated across several published primary and secondary prevention studies.
What was found
The Omega-3 Index was inversely associated with risk for CHD mortality. An Omega-3 Index of 8% or greater was associated with the greatest cardioprotection, whereas an index of 4% or less was associated with the least. No relative risks, odds ratios, confidence intervals, or p-values were reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This paper proposes and defines the Omega-3 Index as a standardized, modifiable red blood cell biomarker for stratifying coronary heart disease mortality risk.
Limits
The abstract does not report participant counts, sample sizes, patient characteristics, exact statistical effect estimates, or details on the laboratory validation methods.
Cited by
- supports People with an omega-3 index of 8% or higher had a 90% lower risk of sudden cardiac death compared to those with an index of 4% or below.