Abstract P043: Erythrocyte Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels Are Inversely Associated With Mortality and With and Incident Cardiovascular Disease: The Framingham Heart Study

Background: The extent to which omega-3 fatty acid (FA) status is related to risk for death from any cause and for incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains controversial. Objective: To examine this association in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS). Design: Prospective and observational. Setting: FHS Offspring cohort. Measurements: The primary exposure marker was red blood cell (RBC) levels of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA; the Omega-3 Index) which was measured at baseline. Secondary markers included RBC EPA, DHA, alpha-linolenic and docosapentaenoic (n-3) acids. Outcomes included mortality (total, CVD, cancer, and other) and total CVD events. Median follow-up was 7.3 years. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for 18 demographic characteristics, clinical status, therapies and other CVD risk factors including C-reactive protein levels. Results: Among the 2500 participants (mean age 66 years, 54% women; all free of CVD at baseline) there were 350 deaths (58 from CVD, 14...