title: Body weight affects ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) accumulation in youth following supplementation in post-hoc analyses of a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Guidelines for suggested intake of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are limited in youth and rely primarily on age. However, body weight varies considerably within age classifications. The current analyses examined effects of body weight and body mass index (BMI) on fatty acid accumulation in 64 youth (7-14 years) with a diagnosed mood disorder in a double-blind randomized-controlled trial (2000mg ω-3 supplements or a control capsule) across 12 weeks. Weight and height were measured at the first study visit and EPA and DHA levels were determined using fasting blood samples obtained at both the first and end-of-study visits. In the ω-3 supplementation group, higher baseline body weight predicted less plasma accumulation of both EPA [B = -0.047, (95% CI = -0.077; -0.017), β = -0.54, p = 0.003] and DHA [B = -0.02, (95% CI = -0.034; -0.007), β = -0.52, p = 0.004]. Similarly, higher BMI percentile as well as BMI category (underweight, normal weight, overweight/obese) predicted less accumulation of EPA and DHA (ps≤0.01). Adherence to supplementation was negatively correlated with BMI percentile [B = -0.002 (95% CI = -0.004; 0.00), β = -0.44, p = 0.019], but did not meaningfully affect observed associations. As intended, the control supplement exerted no significant effect on plasma levels of relevant fatty acids regardless of youth body parameters. These data show strong linear relationships of both absolute body weight and BMI percentile with ω-3 PUFA accumulation in youth. A dose-response effect was observed across the BMI spectrum. Given increasing variability in weight within BMI percentile ranges as youth age, dosing based on absolute weight should be considered. Moreover, effects of weight should be incorporated into statistical models in studies examining clinical effects of ω-3 PUFAs in youth as well as adults, as weight-related differences in effects may contribute meaningfully to inconsistencies in the current literature.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  WHO International Clinical Trial Registry Platform NCT01341925 and NCT01507753.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States of America.|The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States of America.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States of America.|Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Christian
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
authors.forename: Andrea S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States of America.|The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States of America.
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Program of Nutrition in the Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America.
authors.forename: Martha A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Belury
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States of America.|The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America.
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Gracious
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States of America.
authors.forename: L Eugene
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States of America.|Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America.|Program of Nutrition in the Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fristad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid