The BIOmonitoring of the OMega-3 IndeX (BIO-OMIX) Pilot Study

EPA and DHA are two important omega-3 fats that people mostly get from their diet or dietary supplements. The Omega-3 Index (O3I) reflects the amount of EPA and DHA found in red blood cells. A high O3I is linked with good health, while a low O3I is linked with higher risk of heart disease. Importantly, most Canadians have a low O3I. Measuring the O3I requires a blood sample; however, many people are anxious to give blood because of a fear of needles, especially children. We therefore began to explore if small molecules (also called metabolites) in urine could be used to non-invasively assess a person’s omega-3 status. We identified a panel of urine metabolites (also called biomarkers) in men and women that were linked with the O3I. To validate these biomarkers, we conducted a time-response trial in 24 individuals. Matched blood and urine samples were collected from these individuals at numerous time points before and after receiving omega-3s. The specific goal of this project is to measure fatty acids in red blood cells in partnership with Lipid Labs. This will help us achieve our overall goal to determine the accuracy of urinary metabolites as markers of omega-3 status.

Faculty Supervisor:

David Mutch

Student:

Partner:

Lipid Labs - A division of CanAlt Health Labs

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Guelph

Program: