Assessing patient wellness via the omega-3 index lab test

The omega-3 index lab test has proven itself to be an excellent indicator of cardiovascular health, as well as a predictor for the risk of death…

Wellness testing is a vital part of any patient’s first visit to your office. Not only will it establish a baseline point, against which to measure changes as a result of treatment, but it provides patients with a snapshot of their current state of health and a set of goals to aim toward. Tests such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and weight help provide an overall image of a patient’s health status. Research has suggested that assessment with an omega-3 index lab test may be equally important for not just heart health, but general wellbeing.

It may actually be just as important as the standard health wellness tests to understand your patients’ baseline health status, as well as how to improve their numbers. Read further to find out more about the omega-3 index lab test and how it can be a valuable asset for wellness care.

How does the omega-3 index work?

At its core, the omega-3 index reflects the levels of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA) within red blood cells.¹ There is a significant body of research showing that low levels of EPA and DHA within red blood cells are independently and inversely associated with an increased risk of death from coronary heart disease.

Furthermore, the omega-3 index ranged from a low of less than 4%, offering the least protection against coronary heart disease, to a high of greater than 8%, offering the most protection. An omega-3 index between 4-8% represented an intermediate level of protection, with room for improvement.^1,2

Beyond just heart health

As noted previously, the omega-3 index lab test has proven itself to be an excellent indicator of cardiovascular health, as well as a predictor for the risk of death from heart disease. However, two papers, published in Atherosclerosis and the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, reported results from research showing that the omega-3 index may also assess the risk for death from any cause, not just those related to cardiac health.^2,3

In one example, patients given EPA and DHA supplements showed a 35% reduction in risk of cardiac death, a 45% reduction in the risk of sudden death, and a 20% reduction in the risk of any cause of death, as compared to a control group over the course of 3.5 years.²

Postmenopausal women with an omega-3 index of 8% or higher have a 30% lower risk of death from any cause than those with an omega-3 index of 4% or less.³

Lowering the risk with an omega-3 index lab test

Once the baseline omega-3 index is established, the next step is to look at how to change diet to increase intake of foods rich in omega-3, such as salmon, mackerel or tuna.

For patients who follow vegetarian or vegan diets, or for those who cannot get enough omega-3 from food sources, supplements are the best option to help them get adequate amounts of omega-3.

Periodically rechecking omega-3 levels will help you and your patients keep on top of any changes in intake and adjust diet accordingly. The added bonus of including omega-3 as part of a general wellness assessment is that improving its value will also improve other metrics, thereby improving patients’ overall health.

References