Framingham Company's Test Provides Link Between Nutrition and Cardiovascular Risk

Boston Heart launched its Boston Heart Fatty Acid Balance test, a blood test that provides novel indices of cardiovascular health, this month.

The test measures important fatty acid levels and the balance of beneficial and detrimental plasma fatty acids. With the test results, healthcare providers can make personalized dietary and supplement recommendations to decrease their patient’s risk of heart disease. Patients also gain a better understanding of how the foods they eat affect their heart health.

Current Western diets tend to be deficient in essential omega-3 fatty acids and excessive in saturated and trans fats which can promote the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease

Dietary guidelines call for restricting animal fats and trans fats and increasing the intake of fish, fruits, whole grains and vegetables.

With the Boston Heart Fatty Acid Balance test results, healthcare providers receive personalized treatment considerations for lifestyle modification, medication strategies, and/or dietary supplementation to help patients balance their fatty acid levels. Combined, these considerations can lead to improved balance of cholesterol and immune system function, reduced inflammation, and reduced rates of heart disease and atherosclerosis for patients.

The test is based in part on research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition by Boston Heart’s Chief Medical Officer, Ernst J. Schaefer, M.D.

“We hear a lot about trans fats, saturated fats, fish oil and omega-3s in our society’s conversation about food and dieting. However, it can be difficult to understand exactly what those fats mean in terms of cardiovascular health,” said Dr. Schaefer, in a press release “Fortunately, knowing a patient’s plasma fatty acid balance can help healthcare providers prescribe effective treatments to help reduce their patient’s risk of heart disease, including replacing the detrimental saturated and trans fatty acid foods such as animal and dairy with the beneficial monounsaturated and polyunsaturated foods such as vegetable oils, nuts, fish, and fish oil.”

The test adds to Boston Heart’s suite of advanced cardiovascular tests for patients with or at high risk of heart disease and brings additional value to Boston Heart’s full suite of personalized therapy adherence and patient engagement services. The Boston Heart Fatty Acid Balance test can be used in conjunction with Boston Heart’s other exclusive tests to provide a more complete picture of patient health.

Boston Heart Diagnostics is one of the fastest growing health companies in the country, and based in Framingham.

Boston Heart Diagnostics is a privately held company with a singular focus - improving heart health. The business is built around three core areas: advanced diagnostic testing, personalized treatment recommendations, and personalized wellness programs.