title: Global survey of the omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in the blood stream of healthy adults.
abstract: Studies reporting blood levels of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were systematically identified in order to create a global map identifying countries and regions with different blood levels. Included studies were those of healthy adults, published in 1980 or later. A total of 298 studies met all inclusion criteria. Studies reported fatty acids in various blood fractions including plasma total lipids (33%), plasma phospholipid (32%), erythrocytes (32%) and whole blood (3.0%). Fatty acid data from each blood fraction were converted to relative weight percentages (wt.%) and then assigned to one of four discrete ranges (high, moderate, low, very low) corresponding to wt.% EPA+DHA in erythrocyte equivalents. Regions with high EPA+DHA blood levels (>8%) included the Sea of Japan, Scandinavia, and areas with indigenous populations or populations not fully adapted to Westernized food habits. Very low blood levels (≤4%) were observed in North America, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa. The present review reveals considerable variability in blood levels of EPA+DHA and the very low to low range of blood EPA+DHA for most of the world may increase global risk for chronic disease.
authors.affiliation: University of Waterloo, Department of Kinesiology, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada. Electronic address: kstark@uwaterloo.ca.
authors.forename: Ken D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.affiliation: Scientific Affairs, Van Elswyk Consulting, Inc., 10350 Macedonia St., Longmont, CO 80503, USA. Electronic address: mveconsulting@q.com.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Van Elswyk
authors.affiliation: MEDetect Clinical Information Associates, Inc., PO Box 152, Skippack, PA 19474, USA. Electronic address: medetect@aol.com.
authors.forename: M Roberta
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.affiliation: Weatherford Consulting Services, Poteet, TX, USA. Electronic address: charliaweatherford@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Charli A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Weatherford
authors.affiliation: DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., 6480 Dobbin Road, Columbia, MD 21045, USA. Electronic address: Norman.Salem@dsm.com.
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salem
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid