[PHNUTR-L] New Predictor for Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death: EPA/Arachidonic Acid Index

[Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD]

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	New Predictor for Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death: EPA/Arachidonic Acid Index

Reference: 	“A new predictor of risk for sudden cardiac death,” Jabbar 
R, Saldeen T, Ups J Med Sci, 2006; 111(2): 169-77. (Address: Department 
of Surgical Sciences, University of Uppsala, Sweden).

Summary: 	In a study involving analysis of blood samples from subjects 
who had been taking fish oil daily for six years and subjects who had 
not been taking fish oil, researchers conclude that the ratio between 
EPA and arachidonic acid (AA) may be a new index used to predict the 
risk of sudden cardiac death. Results of previous studies involving 
14,000 subjects have shown an inverse relationship between blood levels 
of omega-3 fatty acids and risk of sudden cardiac death. In this study, 
blood samples collected from both groups of subjects were analyzed for 
levels of various fatty acids. Of the six different indices calculated, 
the one which looked at the ratio between EPA and AA was found to show 
the largest difference between the groups, ranging from as low as 5 in 
the non-fish oil group to 118 in the fish oil group. 70% of subjects in 
the fish oil group were found to have an index of 50 or greater. The 
researchers propose that subjects with an EPA/AA index below 50 should 
increa se their intake of omega-3 fatty acids in order to reduce their 
risk of sudden cardiac death.
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar at nutritionucanlivewith.com >
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