Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid profiling using fingertip-prick whole blood does not require overnight fasting before blood collection

Background African elephants in managed care have presented differences in the balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, a situation primarily thought to be due to dietary differences between the managed animals and their free-ranging counterparts. Because of this, circulating fatty acid status is included in routine monitoring of elephant health. A method of blood collection that requires only a few drops of whole blood, dried on filter paper (DBS) and can be used for analyzing full fatty acid profiles offers advantages in clinical application. Methods This study compared the use of whole blood, and whole blood DBS, serum or plasma for use in evaluating circulating fatty acid composition in African savannah elephants. Samples from six African elephants (two males and four females) were collected during the same week at the NC Zoo, Asheboro, NC. Results Results found only 2 of 36 individual fatty acids and none of the 10 fatty acid groupings were different when comparing the four blood fraction sample types to each other with Mann-Whitney U-Test pairwise comparisons. Myristic acid (14:0) was lower in the DBS samples than in whole blood, serum, and plasma and pentadecaenoic acid (15:1) was slightly more concentrated in DBS and whole blood. Discussion Results indicate that fatty acid profile of serum, plasma, whole blood, and DBS are comparable in African elephants. The DBS method offers advantages in acquisition and handling and may be preferable to other methods in both routine health assessment of captive animals and field research on free ranging animals.

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Investigation of Dried Blood Spot Cards for Fatty Acid Analysis Using Porcine Blood

Veterinary Medicine International ◽

10.1155/2021/6624751 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Jordan Wood ◽

Larry J. Minter ◽

Michael K. Stoskopf ◽

Doug Bibus ◽

Dempsy Ange ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Whole Blood ◽

Fatty Acid Analysis ◽

Dried Blood Spot ◽

Nervonic Acid ◽

Blood Collection ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Blood Spot

Fatty acids, especially omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, are important for reproductive and cardiovascular health in animals. While monitoring fatty acids is traditionally conducted using frozen blood fractions such as serum and plasma, advancements in analytical technology have developed a method of collecting microsamples of dried whole blood on Ahlstrom 226 grade filter paper that can provide information on long-term fatty acid status of animals. Blood samples were collected from five male pigs in both the traditional frozen method and on dried blood spot cards (DBS). The DBS samples were collected with untreated syringes and tubes, and approximately 320 μL of blood was placed on each card with approximately 80 μL per spot (4 spots). Statistical analysis was performed to compare the two sample groups to each other using the Mann–Whitney U-test and determine if DBS samples were similar to traditional whole blood samples. Of the 30 fatty acids and fatty acid groups with measurable concentrations, only four individual fatty acids, behenic acid, omega-3 docosapentaenoic acid, nervonic acid, and adrenic acid, had statistical differences. Most of these differences were minor and could be due to analytical errors or contamination. Comparisons between sample types found similar concentrations of key omega fatty acids and PUFAs and support the use of DBS collection as a less invasive method of blood collection and fatty acid analysis.

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Fingertip Whole Blood as an Indicator of Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Changes during Dose-Response Supplementation in Women: Comparison with Plasma and Erythrocyte Fatty Acids

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13051419 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 1419

Author(s):

Barbara J. Meyer ◽

Cassandra Sparkes ◽

Andrew J. Sinclair ◽

Robert A. Gibson ◽

Paul L. Else

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid ◽

Whole Blood ◽

Premenopausal Women ◽

Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Epa And Dha ◽

Dose Dependent ◽

Long Chain

The sensitivity of fingertip whole blood to reflect habitual dietary and dose-dependent supplemental omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LCPUFA) intake in premenopausal women was compared to that of venous erythrocytes and plasma fatty acids. Samples were obtained from women in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which premenopausal women (n = 53) were supplemented with DHA-rich tuna oil capsules and/or placebo (Sunola oil) capsules (6 capsules per day) for 8 weeks to achieve doses of either 0, 0.35, 0.7 or 1.05 g/day n-3 LCPUFA. All blood biomarkers were very similar in their ability to reflect dietary n-3 LCPUFA intake (r = 0.38–0.46 for EPA and DHA intake), and in their dose-dependent increases in n-3 LCPUFA levels after supplementation (R2 = 0.41–0.51 for dose effect on biomarker EPA and DHA levels (mol %)). Fingertip whole blood is an effective alternative to erythrocytes and plasma as a biomarker n-3 LCPUFA intake in premenopausal women.

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