Docosahexaenoic Acid is More Effective than Eicosapentaenoic Acid in Increasing the Omega-3 Index Measured in Red Blood Cell Membranes

BackgroundWhether eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids have distinct effects on cardiometabolic risk remains unclear as most studies to date have used a mixture of the two fatty acids in various forms and proportions. The Omega-3 Index (O3I) reflects the sum of EPA and DHA as percent of fatty acids in red blood cell (RBC) membranes and has been inversely associated with the risk of coronary heart diseases and coronary mortality in epidemiological studies. The objective of this study was to assess if supplementation with high dose EPA differentially modify the O3I compared with high dose DHA in men and women at risk of cardiovascular diseases. MethodsUsing a randomized double-blind controlled crossover design, 48 men and 106 women with abdominal obesity and subclinical inflammation were randomized to a sequence of three treatment phases: 1–2.7g/d of EPA, 2–2.7 g/d of DHA, 3- and 0g/d of EPA+DHA (corn oil). All supplements were provided as 3×1g capsules for a total of 3g/d. Treatment phase...