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Total W3 details
What Total W3 shows
Total W3 is a calculated value: it is the sum of the individual omega-3 fatty acids measured in the panel, such as alpha-linolenic acid, EPA and DHA. Omega-3 fats come mainly from oily fish, seafood and some plant foods like flaxseed and walnuts, and they are involved in cell membranes, the heart and the brain. A lower total generally reflects low intake of omega-3 foods, while a higher total usually reflects a diet or supplements rich in them. It is interpreted alongside total omega-6 and the individual fatty acids, since the balance between them is often as informative as the total.
Tests that include Total W3
Comprehensive Fatty Acids (C8-C26), to evaluate patients for certain mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation defects, peroxisomal defects, and/or a full nutritional assessment. It can also be used to monitor patients receiving a special diet and/or fatty acid supplementation.
Biomarkers
- A-Linolenic C18:3W3 Measures alpha-linolenic acid in serum, the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid that comes from foods like flaxseed, walnuts and canola oil.
- Arachidic, C20:0 Measures arachidic acid in serum, a saturated fatty acid found in small amounts in peanuts and some vegetable oils.
- Arachidonic, C20:4W6 Measures arachidonic acid in serum, an omega-6 fatty acid from meat, eggs and dairy that the body uses to make inflammation-related signalling molecules.
- Decanoic, C10:0 Measures decanoic acid (C10:0), a medium-chain saturated fatty acid, as part of a serum fatty acid panel that can help look at fat metabolism.
- Decenoic, C10:1 Measures decenoic acid (C10:1), a medium-chain unsaturated fatty acid, as part of a serum fatty acid panel that can help look at fat metabolism.
- Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), C22:6 Omega-3 Measures DHA (C22:6 omega-3), a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid from fish and seafood, in serum as part of a fatty acid panel.
- Docosanoic Acid, C22:0 Measures docosanoic (behenic) acid, C22:0, a very long-chain saturated fatty acid, as part of a serum fatty acid panel.
- Docosenoic, C22:1 Measures docosenoic acid (C22:1), a very long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid such as erucic acid, as part of a serum fatty acid panel.
- Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA), C22:5 Omega-3 Measures omega-3 DPA (C22:5 omega-3), a long-chain fatty acid between EPA and DHA, in serum as part of a fatty acid panel.
- Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA), C22:5 Omega-6 Measures omega-6 DPA (C22:5 omega-6), a long-chain omega-6 fatty acid, in serum as part of a fatty acid panel looking at fat balance.
- Docosatetraenoic Acid (DTA), C22:4 Omega-6 Measures DTA (adrenic acid, C22:4 omega-6), a long-chain omega-6 fatty acid made from arachidonic acid, in serum as part of a fatty acid panel.
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA), C20:5 Omega-3 Measures eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid, in serum to help assess your omega-3 intake and overall fatty acid balance.
- Fatty Acids, Total The total amount of fatty acids measured in your serum, used as the reference point for interpreting the individual fatty acids in the panel.
- G Linolenic, C18:3W6 Measures gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid, in serum to help assess omega-6 metabolism and overall fatty acid balance.
- H G Linolenic, C20:3W6 Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid measured in serum fatty acid panels to look at essential fatty acid balance and omega-6 metabolism.
- Hexacosanoic, C26:0 Measures hexacosanoic acid (C26:0), a very long-chain fatty acid, in serum; raised levels can point to inherited peroxisomal disorders.
- Hexacosenoic, C26:1 A very-long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid measured in serum as part of a comprehensive fatty acid profile, mainly to look at how your body handles very long fatty acids.
- Hexadecadienoic, C16:2 A minor 16-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid measured in serum as part of fatty acid panels that look at nutrition and how your body breaks down fats.
- Hexadecenoic C16:1W9 A 16-carbon omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acid measured in serum as part of fatty acid panels that look at dietary fat intake and fat metabolism.
- Lauric, C12:0 A 12-carbon saturated fatty acid found in coconut and palm kernel oil, measured in serum fatty acid panels to look at diet and fat metabolism.
- Lauroleic, C12:1 A minor 12-carbon monounsaturated fatty acid measured in serum fatty acid panels that look at diet and how your body breaks fats down for energy.
- Linoleic C18:2W6 Linoleic acid (C18:2 omega-6), the main omega-6 essential fatty acid, measured in serum fatty acid panels to look at your essential fatty acid status.
- Mead Acid/Arachidon Ratio A ratio calculated from Mead acid and arachidonic acid in serum, used as a marker of essential fatty acid status.
- Mead, C20:3W9 Measures Mead acid, an omega-9 fatty acid your body makes when essential fatty acids are scarce, to help assess essential fatty acid status.
- Monounsaturated, Total The combined serum level of monounsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid, giving an overview of this fat group in your blood.
- Myristic, C14:0 Measures myristic acid, a saturated fatty acid found in dairy fat and coconut and palm kernel oils, as part of a serum fatty acid profile.
- Myristoleic, C14:1 Measures myristoleic acid, a minor monounsaturated fatty acid, as part of a serum fatty acid profile looking at diet and fat metabolism.
- Nervonic, C24:1W9 Measures nervonic acid, a long-chain omega-9 fatty acid that is an important building block of nerve tissue, in serum.
- Octanoic, C8:0 Measures octanoic (caprylic) acid, a medium-chain saturated fatty acid, in serum to help look at fat intake and medium-chain fat metabolism.
- Oleic, C18:1W9 Measures oleic acid, the main monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid found in olive oil and many other fats, in serum.
- Palmitic, C16:0 Measures palmitic acid, the most common saturated fatty acid in the body and diet, as part of a serum fatty acid profile.
- Palmitoleic, C16:1W7 Measures palmitoleic acid, an omega-7 monounsaturated fatty acid made mainly in the body, as part of a serum fatty acid profile.
- Phytanic Acid Measures phytanic acid, a branched-chain fatty acid from the diet, used to look for rare disorders in which the body cannot break it down.
- Polyunsaturated, Total The combined level of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6 fats, in your blood, calculated from the individual fatty acids measured.
- Pristanic Acid Measures pristanic acid, a branched-chain fatty acid made from dietary phytanic acid, used to look for rare disorders of fat breakdown.
- Saturated, Total The combined level of saturated fatty acids in your blood, calculated from the individual saturated fatty acids measured on the panel.
- Stearic, C18:0 Measures stearic acid, an 18-carbon saturated fatty acid in your blood, as part of a fatty acid profile looking at diet and fat metabolism.
- Tetracosanoic, C24:0 Measures tetracosanoic (lignoceric) acid, a very long-chain saturated fatty acid, as part of a fatty acid profile used to look at fat metabolism.
- Tetradecadienoic, C14:2 Measures tetradecadienoic acid, a 14-carbon fatty acid with two double bonds, as part of a profile used to look at fatty acid metabolism.
- Total W3 The sum of the omega-3 fatty acids measured in your blood, such as EPA and DHA, used to look at your overall omega-3 status.
- Total W6 The sum of the omega-6 fatty acids measured in your blood, such as linoleic and arachidonic acid, used to look at your omega-6 status.
- Vaccenic, C18:1W7 Measures vaccenic acid, an omega-7 monounsaturated fatty acid found in dairy and ruminant fats, as part of a fatty acid profile.
Essential Fatty Acids (C12-C22), to be used for basic nutritional assessment, identifying fatty acid deficiency, and monitoring patients with fatty acid deficiency who are being treated with a special diet and/or fatty acid supplements.
Biomarkers
- A-Linolenic C18:3W3 Measures alpha-linolenic acid in serum, the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid that comes from foods like flaxseed, walnuts and canola oil.
- Arachidic, C20:0 Measures arachidic acid in serum, a saturated fatty acid found in small amounts in peanuts and some vegetable oils.
- Arachidonic, C20:4W6 Measures arachidonic acid in serum, an omega-6 fatty acid from meat, eggs and dairy that the body uses to make inflammation-related signalling molecules.
- Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), C22:6 Omega-3 Measures DHA (C22:6 omega-3), a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid from fish and seafood, in serum as part of a fatty acid panel.
- Docosenoic, C22:1 Measures docosenoic acid (C22:1), a very long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid such as erucic acid, as part of a serum fatty acid panel.
- Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA), C22:5 Omega-3 Measures omega-3 DPA (C22:5 omega-3), a long-chain fatty acid between EPA and DHA, in serum as part of a fatty acid panel.
- Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA), C22:5 Omega-6 Measures omega-6 DPA (C22:5 omega-6), a long-chain omega-6 fatty acid, in serum as part of a fatty acid panel looking at fat balance.
- Docosatetraenoic Acid (DTA), C22:4 Omega-6 Measures DTA (adrenic acid, C22:4 omega-6), a long-chain omega-6 fatty acid made from arachidonic acid, in serum as part of a fatty acid panel.
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA), C20:5 Omega-3 Measures eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid, in serum to help assess your omega-3 intake and overall fatty acid balance.
- Fatty Acids, Total The total amount of fatty acids measured in your serum, used as the reference point for interpreting the individual fatty acids in the panel.
- G Linolenic, C18:3W6 Measures gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid, in serum to help assess omega-6 metabolism and overall fatty acid balance.
- H G Linolenic, C20:3W6 Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid measured in serum fatty acid panels to look at essential fatty acid balance and omega-6 metabolism.
- Hexadecenoic C16:1W9 A 16-carbon omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acid measured in serum as part of fatty acid panels that look at dietary fat intake and fat metabolism.
- Lauric, C12:0 A 12-carbon saturated fatty acid found in coconut and palm kernel oil, measured in serum fatty acid panels to look at diet and fat metabolism.
- Linoleic C18:2W6 Linoleic acid (C18:2 omega-6), the main omega-6 essential fatty acid, measured in serum fatty acid panels to look at your essential fatty acid status.
- Mead Acid/Arachidon Ratio A ratio calculated from Mead acid and arachidonic acid in serum, used as a marker of essential fatty acid status.
- Mead, C20:3W9 Measures Mead acid, an omega-9 fatty acid your body makes when essential fatty acids are scarce, to help assess essential fatty acid status.
- Monounsaturated, Total The combined serum level of monounsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid, giving an overview of this fat group in your blood.
- Myristic, C14:0 Measures myristic acid, a saturated fatty acid found in dairy fat and coconut and palm kernel oils, as part of a serum fatty acid profile.
- Nervonic, C24:1W9 Measures nervonic acid, a long-chain omega-9 fatty acid that is an important building block of nerve tissue, in serum.
- Oleic, C18:1W9 Measures oleic acid, the main monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid found in olive oil and many other fats, in serum.
- Palmitic, C16:0 Measures palmitic acid, the most common saturated fatty acid in the body and diet, as part of a serum fatty acid profile.
- Palmitoleic, C16:1W7 Measures palmitoleic acid, an omega-7 monounsaturated fatty acid made mainly in the body, as part of a serum fatty acid profile.
- Polyunsaturated, Total The combined level of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6 fats, in your blood, calculated from the individual fatty acids measured.
- Saturated, Total The combined level of saturated fatty acids in your blood, calculated from the individual saturated fatty acids measured on the panel.
- Stearic, C18:0 Measures stearic acid, an 18-carbon saturated fatty acid in your blood, as part of a fatty acid profile looking at diet and fat metabolism.
- Total W3 The sum of the omega-3 fatty acids measured in your blood, such as EPA and DHA, used to look at your overall omega-3 status.
- Total W6 The sum of the omega-6 fatty acids measured in your blood, such as linoleic and arachidonic acid, used to look at your omega-6 status.
- Vaccenic, C18:1W7 Measures vaccenic acid, an omega-7 monounsaturated fatty acid found in dairy and ruminant fats, as part of a fatty acid profile.
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