OmegaQuant Analytics (Sioux Falls, SD) has received additional funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance research into a blood fatty acid-based algorithm as a potentially earlier and more accessible predictor of insulin resistance.
The newly funded project, “Testing a Blood Fatty Acid Algorithm as an Earlier and Easier Predictor of Insulin Resistance,” builds on OmegaQuant’s previously funded Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project investigating whether patterns of fatty acids in the blood could help predict metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes before these conditions are identified using traditional clinical markers.
The original Phase I research focused on developing a test capable of identifying fatty acid patterns associated with future metabolic dysfunction. The new project will take the next step by further evaluating its ability to identify insulin resistance and interventions that can be as effective as modifying the score.
Insulin resistance occurs when the body’s cells do not respond normally to insulin, requiring the pancreas to produce more insulin to help keep blood glucose levels within a normal range. It can develop well before blood glucose reaches levels associated with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, creating an important opportunity for earlier identification and intervention.
Current measures commonly used to identify metabolic dysfunction, including fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), primarily reflect changes in blood glucose that may occur later in the progression toward type 2 diabetes. Other methods for directly assessing insulin resistance can be more time-consuming, expensive or difficult to implement in routine clinical settings.
OmegaQuant researchers are investigating whether a blood fatty acid profile could provide a simpler approach.
“Our Phase I work allowed us to identify fatty acid patterns that may provide important information about metabolic health before traditional blood glucose markers reveal a problem,” said Kristina Harris Jackson, PhD, RD, principal investigator and director of research at OmegaQuant. “This additional funding gives us the opportunity to rigorously test that algorithm and determine whether it can provide a practical, accessible way to identify insulin resistance earlier.”
Fatty acids circulating in the blood reflect both dietary intake and underlying metabolic processes. Previous research suggests that changes in fatty acid patterns may occur during the development of metabolic dysfunction, potentially providing information that complements traditional measures such as glucose and HbA1c.
If successfully validated, a fatty acid-based screening tool could eventually help health care providers identify individuals experiencing metabolic changes earlier, when lifestyle and nutritional interventions may have a greater opportunity to influence long-term health.
“One of OmegaQuant’s goals has always been to turn complex fatty acid science into useful information that can help people better understand their health,” said Jason Polreis, CEO. “This project is an exciting extension of that mission because it explores whether a simple blood sample could reveal metabolic changes earlier and provide individuals and health care providers with more time to act.”
The project also represents an important milestone for OmegaQuant’s broader research program. Rather than focusing solely on individual fatty acids, the research uses various fatty acids across the blood fatty acid profile to investigate whether combinations of biomarkers can provide clinically meaningful information about metabolic health.
“Ultimately, we want to determine whether fatty acid testing can tell us something about insulin resistance that existing routine tests cannot—and whether we can do that in a way that is practical for both patients and health care providers,” Jackson added.
The newly funded work will build upon the findings developed during the initial Phase I project. Additional research and validation will further support the newly developed test before making this available for clinical use.
For more information, visit https://omegaquant.com.
