Stability of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Dried Blood Spots on Fiberglass Media and Regression-Based Estimation of Omega-3 Index

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the accumulation of low-density lipoproteins in the vascular wall and the related immune activation, leading to plaque formation and increased cardiovascular risk. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic) exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and reduce cardiovascular risk, with the omega-3 index serving as a marker for therapeutic efficacy, including statin response. In this study, a glass fiber carrier for fatty acid analysis in dried blood spots (DBS) was tested. A high correlation was observed between fatty acid levels in whole blood and DBS samples (R²=0.98), outperforming the commonly used cellulose cards. A 1% butyl hydroxytoluene solution applied to the card surface provided omega-3 stability at 84.72% over three weeks of storage. A linear relationship was also found between omega-3 levels in whole blood and erythrocytes (R²≈0.86), supporting the use of conversion models between blood fractions. These findings demonstrate the potential of fiberglass media as a reliable and practical tool for fatty acid profiling in clinical and epidemiological settings.

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