Lower Omega-3 Status Associated with Higher Erythrocyte Distribution Width and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in UK Biobank Cohort
Michael I. McBurney Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids Articles in Press E-mail Alert - March 16, 2023
Highlights
• Red blood cell (RBC) distribution width (RDW) is a measure of RBC deformability
• Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a biomarker of innate-adaptive immune balance
• Omega-3 fatty acids (Omega3%), RDW & NLR are predictors of disease risk & mortality
• RDW- and NLR- relationships with Omega3% were characterized in 109,191 adults
• Omega3% is inversely associated with RDW and NLR (both p<0.0001)
High red blood distribution width (RDW) is associated with decreased red blood cell deformability, and high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a biomarker of systemic inflammation and innate-adaptive immune system imbalance. Both RDW and NLR are predictors of chronic disease risk and mortality.
Omega-3 index (O3I) values have previously been shown to be inversely associated with RDW and NLR levels. Our objective was to determine if total plasma long chain omega-3 fatty acids (Omega3%) measured in the UK Biobank cohort were associated with RDW and NLR values. RDW- and NLR- relationships with Omega3% were characterized in 109,191 adults (58.4% female). RDW- and NLR-Omega3% relationships were inversely associated with Omega3% (both p<0.0001). These cross-sectional associations confirm previous findings that increasing RDW and NLR values are associated with low O3I.
The hypothesis that RDW and/or NLR values can be reduced in individuals with less-than optimal long chain omega 3 values need to be tested in randomized controlled intervention trials using EPA and/or DHA.