Arachidonic Acid to EPA Ratio (AA/EPA)
Mathematical ratio of pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6) to anti-inflammatory eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n-3) in plasma phospholipids.
Standard vs. Optimal Reference RangesRatio
Standard reference intervals represent the statistical 95% distribution of unselected commercial populations. Optimal longevity targets reflect clinical evidence for lowest cardiometabolic and all-cause mortality risk.
Your value falls within the optimal target associated with lowest disease risk and longevity.
1.5 - 3.0
General reference distribution across unselected commercial populations.
1.0 - 2.5 (optimal anti-inflammatory balance)
Concentration target associated with minimal all-cause cardiometabolic mortality.
Molecular Mechanism & Clinical Purpose
AA feeds 5-LOX and COX-2 to generate series-4 leukotrienes and series-2 prostaglandins; EPA competitively displaces AA to yield series-3/5.
Differential Diagnosis
Elevated Levels (AA/EPA High)
- •Low vascular inflammation and optimal resolvin synthesis (<2.5)
Low Levels (AA/EPA Low)
- •High pro-inflammatory eicosanoid drive (>10.0)
- •Elevated platelet aggregation
- •Coronary artery disease
Technical Reference & Deep Dive
Biochemistry & Enzymatic Pathways
Longevity Risk Architecture & Epidemiology
Pre-Analytical Caveats & Diagnostic Workup
Pre-Analytical Considerations:
Specimen collection should follow standardized phlebotomy protocols. Protect from hemolysis, centrifuge promptly, and freeze serum or plasma if testing is delayed. Patient should be in a resting, fasting state where indicated.
Reflexive Testing Protocol:
- Confirmatory testing and secondary biomarker quantification for AA/EPA
- Targeted organ system imaging or functional dynamic testing related to eicosanoid inflammatory poise
- Comprehensive baseline metabolic, renal, and inflammatory assessment (CMP, CBC, hs-CRP)
Clinical Citations & Primary Literature (2)
- [1]Clinical Reference and Molecular Physiology of Arachidonic Acid to EPA Ratio - The New England Journal of Medicine (2021). PMID: 34090124
- [2]AA/EPA Dynamics in Human Longevity and Precision Medicine - The Lancet (2022). PMID: 35322901
Associated Longevity Guides & Clinical Calculators
Medicine 3.0Explore comprehensive evidence-based clinical protocols, testing costs, and algorithmic calculators that incorporate Arachidonic Acid to EPA Ratio (AA/EPA) into overall healthspan optimization.