title: Biological variability of blood omega-3 biomarkers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a pilot study to estimate the biological variability and effects of a prior meal on the omega-3 fatty acid (FA) content of 3 blood FA pools.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured FA levels in red blood cells (RBCs), plasma and plasma phospholipids (PL) obtained from 20 healthy volunteers tested weekly over 6 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The within-subject coefficients of variation were 4.1%+/-1.9%, 15.9%+/-6.4%, and 14.5%+/-8.4%, respectively (RBC vs. others, p<0.001). RBC omega-3 FA content had the lowest biological variability and was not altered in the fed state.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the perspective of variability and of the sample types tested, RBCs may be the preferred sample type for assessing omega-3 FA status.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Health Research Center, Sanford Research/USD and Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA. harrisw@sanfordhealth.org
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Rachael M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3