title: The influence of consuming fatty fish instead of red meat on plasma levels of vitamins A, C and E.
abstract: The effect of fatty fish consumption on the plasma levels of vitamins A, C and E and the intake of these vitamins were studied in 12 males and 16 females with a mean age of 32.4 years. This cross-over study had a 3 week baseline, 6 week experimental and 6 week post-experimental period with a washout period of approximately 3 months in between. Four 7 day dietary records were used to collect dietary information. Blood samples were drawn after an overnight fast at baseline and every third week thereafter. Plasma total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triacylglycerol, vitamin A, C and E levels were determined. During the experimental periods red meat was consumed by half of the volunteers while fatty fish was consumed by the other half. Diets were crossed-over after the washout period. Plasma levels of vitamins A, C and E remained within normal limits in the experimental periods. The intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was significantly higher in the experimental fatty fish period than in the experimental red meat period. The dietary ratio of vitamin E: PUFA and the plasma vitamin E level were lower (P < 0.01) in the experimental fatty fish period than in the experimental red meat period but the ratio of plasma vitamin E: total cholesterol plus triacylglycerol did not differ between the experimental periods. In this study none of the experimental groups were at risk in terms of their intake of the antioxidant vitamins.
authors.affiliation: National Research Programme for Nutritional Intervention, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolmarans
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Labadarios
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Benadé
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kotze
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Louw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D002417:Cattle; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D012756:Sheep; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D014280:Triglycerides; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002784:Cholesterol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid