Overall, the combination of the virtual CRO method, the
use of the SF-12, and the self-administered Omega-3
Index finger prick blood test provided an appropriate,
effective, and efficient design for assessing the potential
impact of a nutritional supplement on biomarkers of
health in a non-diseased population. The current study
demonstrated significant improvements in blood EPA
and DHA status, and a small but significant increase in
subjective mental health scores, following the compliant
use of a high potency fish oil supplement in a healthy
population that had been previously taking a fish oil supplement.
Further studies are needed with more rigorous
design, extended duration, and the evaluation of clinical
endpoints to assess the relevance of high potency fish oil
supplementation in the general population. Additional
studies should evaluate the effectiveness of the virtual
CRO as a research tool in evaluating nutritional interventions
in a healthy population, as such studies are
grossly lacking.