Estimation and predictors of the Omega-3 Index in the UK Biobank

authored by: Jan Philipp Schuchardt, Nathan Tintle, Jason Westra, William S. Harris
Abstract: Information on the Omega-3 Index (O3I) in the United Kingdom (UK) is scarce. The UK-Biobank (UKBB) contains data on total plasma n3-PUFA% and DHA% measured by NMR. The aim of our study was to create an equation to estimate the O3I (eO3I) from these data. We first performed an inter-laboratory experiment with 250 random blood samples in which the O3I was measured in erythrocytes by GC, and total n3 % and DHA% were measured in plasma by NMR. The best predictor of eO3I included both DHA% and a derived metric, the total n3 %-DHA%. Together these explained 65 % of the variability (r = 0·832, P < 0·0001). We then estimated the O3I in 117 108 UKBB subjects and correlated it with demographic and lifestyle variables in multivariable-adjusted models. The mean eO3I was 5·58 % (sd 2·35 %) in this UKBB cohort. Several predictors were significantly correlated with eO3I (all P < 0·0001). In general order of impact and with directionality (-, inverse and +, direct): oily-fish consumption (+), fish oil supplement use (+), female sex (+), older age (+), alcohol use (+), smoking (-), higher waist circumference and BMI (-), lower socioeconomic status and less education (-). Only 20·5 % of eO3I variability could be explained by predictors investigated, and oily fish consumption accounted for 7·0 % of that. With the availability of the eO3I in the UKBB cohort, we will be in a position to link risk for a variety of diseases with this commonly used and well-documented marker of n3-PUFA biostatus.
Organisation(s): Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Nutrition Physiology and Human Nutrition Section
External Organisation(s): Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI)
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of South Dakota
Type: Article
Journal: British Journal of Nutrition
Volume: 130
Pages: 312-322
No. of pages: 11
ISSN: 0007-1145
Publication date: 10.10.2022
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Medicine (miscellaneous), Nutrition and Dietetics
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.08.16.22278612 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114522003282 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.15488/14041 (Access: Open)