The Global Omega-3 Status Map from “Progress in Lipid Research” published by ScienceDirect.com shows low levels of Omega-3s for most of the world.1
Virtually all people in the Western World have very low levels of Omega-3s, with an Omega-3 Index at or below 4%. A normal Omega-3 Index is considered to be between 8% and 12%. The only way to know for sure if a patient is within the normal range is to test a drop of blood.
The EndFlame comprehensive Omega-3 Index finger-stick blood test from Greens First is a cell inflammation blood test that measures the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) in red blood cell membranes.
Having an Omega-3 Index in the normal range of 8% to 12% is an indicator of better overall health. As part of an overall healthy lifestyle, a normal Omega-3 Index may help to maintain heart, brain, eye, and joint health by managing overall full-body inflammation. Once a doctor knows a patient’s Omega-3 Index, they can personalize their diet to correct any Omega-3 deficiencies in as little as 3 to 4 months.
The Framingham Heart Study
This study was one of the first to follow 5,200 people for years and measure both blood and lifestyle factors to try and figure out what causes heart attacks.2
Researchers since conducted a follow-up study by recruiting 2,724 additional people and had them participate in the Framingham Omni Study, where this time they analyzed each participant for fatty acids and inflammatory markers.3
Comparison of 10 Key Inflammation Markers From Framingham Study to Omega-3 Index
Measuring inflammation in humans typically utilizes a number of inflammatory tests.
A paper published in Atherosclerosis in 2015 by the founder of the EndFlame Omega-3 lab and his colleagues from Boston University, compared the Omega-3 Index to the blood levels of 10 key inflammatory markers used in the Framingham Study on 2,724 people.
Important Points Published In the Research
When measuring inflammation in humans, it’s not correct to say that inflammation is “good” or “bad”; it depends! Inflammation is the tool the immune system uses to kill unwanted organisms and heal injured tissue, which is good!
When we aren’t infected or injured, levels of inflammation should be low (there’s nothing to fight off or heal), but when we need to fight off a disease, or repair a “new” sprain/strain injury, it should be elevated. We now know that inflammation goes up in “non-infectious” diseases like heart disease and diabetes, which was the focus of the Framingham Study.
In this new published study, 10 Inflammatory Markers were Measured from different pathways and statistical measures were taken to ensure that the results found were not due to chance.
The 10 Inflammatory Markers Measured Were:
- Blood C-Reactive protein (CRP)
- Urinary 8-epi-PGF2a
- Isoprostanes
- Interleukin-6, intercellular adhesion molecule-1
- Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase-A2
- Activity and mass, monocyte
- Chemoattractant protein
- Osteoprotegerin
- P-selectin
- Tumor-necrosis factor receptor 2.
What Did the Researchers Find?
There were “significant inverse correlations” between all 10 inflammatory markers and the Omega-3 Index! This means as the inflammation in the body goes up and indicated by the most common inflammatory markers, the Omega-3 Index goes down or gets worse.
The researchers concluded that “the higher the Omega-3 Index, the lower the inflammatory markers!”
The bottom line is this. This study in the Framingham population using gold-standard analyses of variables, i.e. the Omega-3 Index and 10 different inflammatory markers, helps further demonstrate the link between Omega-3s and lower inflammation.
HOMEOSTASIS:
Homeostasis is defined as maintaining stability and normal function in the body while adjusting to constantly changing conditions.
Based on the research listed above that compared 10 different inflammatory markers to the Omega-3 Index, it becomes obvious that maintaining a normal Omega-3 Index plays a vital role in maintaining Homeostasis and supporting the entire body’s inflammatory response and supporting it to adapt to various situations to protect health
Based on the study above, the EndFlame Omega-3 Index Cell Inflammation Blood Test needs to be utilized by all practitioners as a first line diagnostic test to check for Omega-3 deficiency to find out if the inflammatory response is or is NOT sufficiently resolved.
If the test is found to be positive by having a value under 8%, it indicates unresolved low-level inflammation that may be attacking muscles triggering musculoskeletal discomfort and organs being attacked that may be accelerating the early development of chronic disease.
EndFlame is NOT a wellness test!
EndFlame is a main-stream diagnostic blood test that should be used to measure the function of the immune system to find out if the two phases of the inflammatory response, initiation, and resolution are balanced and working correctly.
The resolution phase of the inflammatory response is controlled by a unique group of hormones called resolvins, protectins, and maresins that are derived from Omega-3 fatty acids.
The science is clear that the driving force in the development of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes and their associated chronic conditions is chronic cellular inflammation that is triggered by an “out of control” immune system stuck in the resolution phase.
The best marker of the extent of cellular inflammation is the ratio of two fatty acids in the blood, EPA and DHA, therefore the Omega-3 Index and the Omega-3 to Omega-6 Ratio determined from the EndFlame Omega-3 Index Cell Inflammation Blood Test.
This test provides a surrogate marker into the potential balance of inflammation and resolution in every cell in the body. For this reason, it is clinically advisable and significant to test every patient.
Dr. Donald L. Hayes, D.C. is President of Ceautamed Worldwide, the makers of Greens First®. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Oregon and Doctorate in Chiropractic from the University of Western States.
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*These products and statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
References
1Progress in Lipid Research published by ScienceDirect.com in May 2016
2https://www.framinghamheartstudy.org/
3https://biolincc.nhlbi.nih.gov/studies/framoffspring/