April 17, 2024, Sioux Falls, SD: A new study published in the April 2024 issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings shows that higher DHA blood levels are associated with significant risk reductions for all-cause mortality (death from any cause) as well as mortality due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer.
This is the largest ever study to examine the relationship between DHA status and long-term mortality, according to researchers, who focused specifically on DHA for this meta-analysis because it was the only specific omega-3 fatty acid level available in the UK Biobank (UKBB) database.
The researchers found that DHA blood levels were inversely associated with risk of death from all causes as well as deaths due to CVD, cancer, and other causes. Comparing individuals with the highest versus the lowest DHA levels, risk for death across all four outcomes was 21% lower.
These findings corroborate those of an earlier pooled analysis of 17 studies with participants followed for a median of 14 years. For example, the relative risk of all-cause mortality (comparing the highest versus the lowest quartiles) was 15% lower in the original meta-analysis and 17% lower in the updated meta-analysis. For CVD mortality, the 21% lower risk remained the same. For cancer, the risk was 14% lower in the original and 19% lower in updated meta-analysis, and for death from other causes, the values were 13% and 15% lower, respectively.
“Besides showing that higher DHA levels were strongly and dose-dependently associated with lower risk for death (in all 4 categories) this paper also added these new data from the UKBB to our previous FORCE study on the same topic, strengthening the findings of the latter making it crystal clear that people with higher omega-3 levels were ‘destined’ to live longer than those with lower levels,” explained William S. Harris, PhD, lead author of this recent study, and President of the Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI); founder of OmegaQuant Analytics, LLC; and Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota.
Researchers believe some of the reasons for reduced risk for death associated with high DHA blood levels may be the cumulative effects of omega-3 on blood pressure, heart rate, vagal tone, telomeres, mTOR, skeletal muscle mass/strength, mitochondrial function, and myriad other factors.
“These findings confirm what we saw in a broader (in terms of numbers of cohorts around the world [17 vs 1]) but smaller (fewer total people, 43K vs 118K) study from FORCE that people with higher omega-3 blood levels live longer than those with lower levels,” said Harris. “Importantly, not only is their lifespan longer, but other studies have also directly shown that their ‘health-span’ is longer, too.”
“If you’re less likely to die from CVD and cancer – the two major killers today – then your overall health must be better,” Dr. Harris added. “Any marker that 1) is linked with longer survival and 2) is modifiable should be optimized. People should strive to get their omega-3 levels up as early in life as possible and keep them there to obtain the most long-term benefit from these fatty acids.”
As for whether or not these study findings help advance research in a particular area and why, Dr. Harris said, “Any molecule/compound/nutrient that impacts total and cause-specific risk for death is doing something very deep in our cells, so learning what that might be should stimulate new research.”
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Study Link:
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(23)00603-1/fulltext
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About OmegaQuant:
OmegaQuant is an independent, CLIA-certified lab that offers nutritional status testing to researchers, clinicians and the public. OmegaQuant performs analysis in Sioux Falls, SD, for commercial and academic research collaborators, and for consumers interested in monitoring their nutritional status in both blood and breast milk. Its goal is to offer the highest quality fatty acid analytical services to researchers and to provide simple tests of nutritional status to consumers, with the ultimate purpose of advancing the science and use of certain nutrients to improve health. Internationally, OmegaQuant works with lab partners based in Australia and the UK. In the UK, it has a partnership with the University of Stirling, based in the Scotland, to help process blood samples from Europe. Learn more @ www.omegaquant.com
About FARI:
FARI was established in 2020 as a non-profit foundation that brings together nutrition scientists and biostatistical experts with strong publication records and expertise in fatty acids to accelerate discovery of the relationship between fatty acids, especially omega-3s, and health. FARI is currently the only organization focused directly on discovering and publishing research evaluating the health effects of individual fatty acids. Learn more @ www.faresinst.org