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Journal of Dermatology Research and Skin Care | Volume 2
May 14-15, 2018 | Montreal, Canada
Spring Dermatology &
Skin Care Expo Conference
O
mega 3 fatty acids play an important role in
maintaining skin health and for its anti-inflammatory
properties. Omega 3 fatty acid deficiency is associated with
dermatological conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis
and psoriasis. However, most of the skin care products in
the market today, do not incorporate omega 3 fatty acids
and while omega 3 fatty acids are recommended in the
diet for healthy skin, there is no clear guidance on the
appropriate amount of omega 3 fatty acids needed for
healthy skin. Moreover, inflammation which is elevated
in most dermatological conditions and a concern for skin
health is not usually measured. Numerous studies have
demonstrated the importance of essential fatty acids
especially the polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acids – DHA
(docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) in
heart, joint and brain health as evident in numerous clinical
studies. The omega 3 index, which represents the amount
of DHA and EPA as a percentage of the total fatty acids in
red blood cells, has been accepted as a powerful biomarker
for measuring cardiovascular health. Several clinical trials
have shown that an omega 3 index greater than 8% is a
good indicator of favorable cardiovascular health, while
an index of 4% and below represents high risk. Knowledge
of an individual’s index facilitates direct intervention with
omega 3 supplementation either through a diet of oily fish
or fish/algal oil supplements. Recent studies indicate that
a higher omega 3 indexes (10%) correlates to better insulin
sensitivity, which has implications in a more favourable
metabolic profile. To date, there is no recommended omega
3 index for skin health, although there are studies suggesting
that higher intake of omega 3 fatty acids can alleviate acne,
atopic dermatitis and psoriasis symptoms. The presentation
will describe an improved dried blood spot technology that
stabilizes the labile polyunsaturated fatty acids facilitating
the measurement of an individual’s omega 3 index from a
few blood drops obtained from a simple finger prick with
no need for refrigeration. This is much more cost-effective
and convenient than the traditional method which requires
whole blood obtained from an arm venipuncture and
preservation of the blood in liquid nitrogen (-190C) prior to
analysis. The technology is not limited to determining the
omega 3 indexes but includes measurement of inflammation
markers such as the omega 6:3 and AA (arachidonic acid)/
EPA ratios. The AA/EPA inflammation marker is upstream
of the inflammation pathway regulating downstream, the
commonly used inflammation markers (TNF-alpha, IL-6,
C-reactive protein). Thus, AA/EPA ratio is a good marker
for silent, chronic low-grade or subclinical inflammation.
The described technology can facilitate the adoption of
the omega 3 index in dermatology especially in its use in
clinical trials. This should lead to a recommended omega 3
index targeted for skin health and represents a step towards
personalized dermatology.
Speaker Biography
Leodevico (Vic) L Ilag is Chief Scientific Officer and has more than 20 years of biotech
experience in the discovery and development of biologics and diagnostics serving in
multiple senior executive roles in R&D and business development with several biotech
companies in Australia and Europe.
e:
vilag@xerion.com.auOmega 3 testing for skin health: A tool for personalized dermatology
Leodevico (Vic) L Ilag
Xerion Limited, Australia