Page 49 - JSOM Summer 2024

TABLE 3 Omega-3 Index Risk Category by Supplementation and Fish Consumption
O3I risk category, no. (%)
Variable High Moderate Low Total χ (df) Cramer’s V
2
O3 supplements
no 134 (84) 89 (57) 0 (0) 223 39.2*(2) 0.342
yes 26 (16) 66 (43) 5 (100) 97
Fish eater
no 69 (43) 35 (23) 4 (80) 108 19.8* (2) 0.248
yes 91 (57) 120 (77) 1 (20) 212
Fish consumption
Does not eat fish 69 (44) 35 (22) 4 (80) 108 30.3* (6)
Eats less than 1 serving/wk 30 (19) 23 (15) 0 (0) 53
Eats 1–2 servings/wk 48 (30) 74 (48) 0 (0) 122 0.210
Eats 2+ servings/wk 11 (7) 23 (15) 1 (20) 35
*p<.001.

TABLE 4 Cluster Analysis
Cluster, mean (SD) median Fish servings O3 dosage Traumatic brain injury
High exposure 0.8 (1.0) 1 385.1 (964.4) 0 9.6 (18.4) 5
Moderate exposure 0.8 (1.0) 1 167.1(471.0) 0 2.4 (3.9) 2
Low exposure 0.7 (.7) 0.5 93.2 (350.3) 0 0.7 (1.3) 0
Combined 0.8 (0.9) 205.0 (626.5) 3.9 (10.4)
O3 index O6:O3 ratio Deployments
High exposure 4.0 (1.3) 3.6 8.3 (1.9) 78.3 3.8 (3.0) 3
Moderate exposure 4.0 (1.1) 4 8.0 (1.7) 7.9 1.3 (1.7) 1
Low exposure 3.9 (1.2) 3.7 8.5 (1.8) 8.4 0.6 (1.1) 0
Combined 4.0 (1.2) 8.2 (1.8) 1.8 (2.3)
Omega Score*
High exposure 4.8 (1.3)4.7
Moderate exposure 5.0 (1.1) 5
Low exposure 4.8 (1.0) 4.6
Combined 4.0 (1.2)
*Not used in clustering as it is highly correlated with O3 index.
O3 = omega-3; O6 = omega-6.

O6:O3 ratio, weekly fish servings, and O3I, shared statisti- FIGURE 2 Endogenous metabolism of (A) omega-6 fatty acids and
cally significant relationships and large variations with cluster (B) O3FAs.
membership. Robust analysis of variance for omega-3 supple-
mentation showed marginal nonsignificance, with an insub- Linoleic acid, 18:2n-6 α-Linolenic acid (ALA), 18:3n-3
2
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stantial effect (p=.086, η =0). Partial eta squared (η p), as
2
a measure of effect, is provided for transparency of statistical γ-Linolenic acid, 18:3n-6 Stearidonic acid, 18:4n-3
reporting.
Eicosatetranoic acid, 20:4n-3
Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, 20:3n-6
Discussion Eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), 20:5n-3
In this cross-sectional study, O3FA supplementation, either Arachidonic acid (AA), 20:4n6
with or without fish consumption, was a stronger predictor Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), 22:5n-3
of omega-3 status, indicated by O3I, than fish consumption Tetracosapentaenoic acid, 24:5n6 Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 22:6n-3
alone. In general, participants who were supplemented with
O3FA had higher O3I scores within each risk category (Figure (A) (B)
2). Overall, the results indicated a disparity between the O3FA
status of these participants and the optimal O3I for those at Adapted from Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.
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risk of brain injury. Solid arrows indicate single-step reactions. Arrows with lines indicate
multiple-step reactions. Red arrows indicate steps where delta 5 de-
saturase is needed for conversion. Green arrows indicate steps where
O3I delta 6 desaturase is needed for conversion.
O3I levels in this population were primarily in the moderate-
and high-risk categories with only five participants’ values fall- factors associated with risk for brain injury. Research exam-
ing in the low-risk category. The participants’ O3I values were ining the role of O3FA in building neurons and inflammatory
concerning given their occupational exposure to numerous mediators suggests the O3I risk categories associated with

Factors Influencing Omega-3 Index Status | 47