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Updated: Nov 6, 2025

NMR Spectroscopy as a Robust Tool for the Rapid Evaluation of the Lipid Profile of Fish Oil Supplements
Published on: May 1, 2017
Body surface area-based omega-3 fatty acids supplementation strongly correlates to blood concentrations in children
L Ljungblad1, H Gleissman1, G Hedberg1
1Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract:
Omega-3 fatty acids have been suggested as a complement in cancer treatment, but doses are not established. We performed a dose-finding study in 33 children in remission from cancer. Participants were allocated to a body surface area (BSA) adjusted dose (mg/m2) of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (40:60), ranging 233-3448 mg/m2 daily for 90 days. Fatty acid concentration in plasma phospholipids and red blood cells were determined by GC. Supplementation was well tolerated and correlated strongly with blood ω3-fatty acid concentrations and EPA showed the highest increase. Using the ω3-index disregards docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), which increased 30-43% in our study motivating an EDD-index (∑EPA,DPA,DHA). The ratio between arachidonic acid and EPA or DHA showed negative exponential trends. Dose per BSA enabled an individualized omega-3 supplementation decreasing the variation referred to interindividual differences. Based on our results, we suggest a dose of 1500 mg/m2 BSA for further studies.
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