Biological markers of dietary intake, with emphasis on fatty acids.
The level of certain polyunsaturated fatty acids in body fluids or tissues can be a valid indicator of their consumption in man. In 59 housewives studied over a 2.5-year period we found a correlation of 0.70 between the intake of linoleic acid, assessed as the mean of nineteen 24-hour recalls, and the level in fat tissue [Van Staveren et al.: Am J Epidemiol 1986; 123:455-465]. In 58 adult men supplemented with fish oil capsules for 1 year, the rise of eicosapentaenoic acid levels in erythrocyte membranes was strongly and specifically related to the rise in intake. We conclude that epidemiological studies of the role of these fatty acids in health and disease could fruitfully employ these markers of dietary intake.
Katan
M B
MB
Department of Human Nutrition, Wageningen Agriculture University, The Netherlands.
van Birgelen
A
A
Deslypere
J P
JP
Penders
M
M
van Staveren
W A
WA
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D015415:Biomarkers; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male
D015415:Biomarkers; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005395:Fish Oils; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid