--- title: "Omega-3 fatty acids and mortality in patients referred for…" description: "Higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in red blood cells are linked to lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing…" url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d27397734.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d27397734.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d27397734.html" type: "study" study_key: "d27397734" journal: "Atherosclerosis" year: 2016 pmid: "27397734" doi: "10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.06.049" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Omega-3 fatty acids and mortality in patients referred for coronary angiography [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Omega-3 fatty acids and mortality in patients referred for… **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d27397734.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/d27397734 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | Atherosclerosis | | Year | 2016 | | PMID | [27397734](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27397734/) | | DOI | [10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.06.049](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.06.049) | | Study key | d27397734 | ## Takeaway Higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in red blood cells are linked to lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing coronary angiography. ## The question Do omega-3 fatty acids protect from cardiovascular disease mortality? ## Hypothesis The study hypothesized that erythrocyte omega-3 fatty acids would be associated with mortality in patients referred for coronary angiography. ## Methods Erythrocyte omega-3 fatty acid proportions were measured at baseline in 3259 participants of the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health Study (LURIC) using the HS-Omega-3 Index method. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to investigate associations of omega-3 fatty acid proportions with mortality. ## Results During a median follow-up of 9.9 years, 975 patients (29.9%) died, with 614 patients (18.8%) dying from cardiovascular causes. Proportions of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were inversely associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, even after adjusting for conventional cardiovascular risk factors. The strongest association was for EPA, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.89 (0.83-0.96) per increase of one standard deviation. Evidence for a non-linear relationship between EPA and mortality was also observed. ## Conclusion EPA and DHA were associated with reduced mortality in the LURIC study, independent of other risk factors. The association between EPA and mortality appeared to be non-linear. ## Limitations The abstract does not explicitly state any limitations of the study. ## Verbatim from the abstract > EPA and DHA were associated with reduced mortality independent of other risk factors ## Mortality Rates During Follow-up | Measure | Percentage of Patients (%) | | --- | --- | | All-cause mortality | 29.9 | | Cardiovascular mortality | 18.8 | *During a median follow-up of 9.9 years, 29.9% of patients died from all causes, and 18.8% died from cardiovascular causes.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Omega-3 Index Test | Measurement tool | [Omega-3 Index Test](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/143.md) | ## Reference 1. **Omega-3 fatty acids and mortality in patients referred for coronary angiography** Atherosclerosis 2016 · [PMID 27397734](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27397734/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.06.049](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.06.049) > EPA and DHA were associated with reduced mortality independent of other risk factors ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d27397734.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d27397734.html","name":"Omega-3 fatty acids and mortality in patients referred for coronary angiography","description":"Higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in red blood cells are linked to lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing…","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d27397734.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Omega-3 fatty acids and mortality in patients referred for…","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d27397734.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d27397734.html#study","name":"Omega-3 fatty acids and mortality in patients referred for coronary angiography","headline":"Omega-3 fatty acids and mortality in patients referred for coronary angiography","datePublished":"2016","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Atherosclerosis"},"identifier":"PMID:27397734","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27397734/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.06.049","abstract":"Higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in red blood cells are linked to lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing coronary angiography."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Omega-3 Index Test](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/143.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Evidence: Erythrocyte EPA+DHA percentage](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s143.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).