Omega-3 levels better predictors of death risk than serum cholesterol

Scientists have found that omega-3 levels are better predictors of risk for death than serum cholesterol.

A study, published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, looked at the value of measuring blood levels of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids to assess an individual's risk for developing certain diseases.

The "Omega-3 Index" (the EPA plus DHA content of red blood cell membranes) was measured in 2500 participants.

The results showed that the risk for death from any cause was reduced by about 33 per cent comparing the lowest Omega-3 Index participants to the highest.

"We all know that the serum cholesterol level is a major risk factor for CHD, and since the latter is a major cause of death, it would be reasonable to expect that a high cholesterol level would portend higher risk for premature death," said William Harris from the University of Nottingham in the UK.

The researchers primarily focused on total mortality (death from any cause) as an endpoint, but also tracked death from cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer and other causes.

In addition, they reported the associations between Omega-3 Index levels and a risk for any CVD event - fatal or not, heart attack or stroke.

The population was 66 years of age at baseline and there were a few more females than males. The study followed these individuals for disease outcomes until about age 73.

The results were statistically adjusted for a wide variety of factors that could influence the outcomes.

According to the study, a higher Omega-3 Index was associated with a lower risk for total CVD events, total coronary heart disease events, and total strokes.

"When baseline serum cholesterol levels were substituted for the Omega-3 Index in the same multi-variable models, the former was not significantly associated with any of the tracked outcomes whereas the latter was related to 4 of the 5 outcomes assessed," Harris said.