Biomarkers and the measurement of fatty acids.
OBJECTIVE
To review the various biomarkers of dietary intakes of fatty adds in human populations, their measurement, limitations and analytical considerations.


METHODS
Review of the literature.


RESULTS
Although there is no good biomarker of intake of total fat, a number of alternatives exist for assessing the intakes of exogenously produced fatty acids that are consumed. Adipose tissue, erythrocyte membrane concentrations and serum or plasma levels can reflect prior intakes over the past few hours to the past few years. The concentrations of individual fatty acids in these media generally reflect relative levels, and are influenced by a number of factors. Although relatively expensive to analyse, a single analysis by gas chromatography or high-performance liquid chromatography provides information on multiple fatty acids, and is superior to attempting to measure specific fatty acids using traditional dietary assessment methods.


CONCLUSIONS
Biomarkers of fatty acids that reflect long-term intake are available for nutritional epidemiology purposes. Analytical methods have become very accurate and able to detect and quantify smaller families, such as trans-fatty acids.
Arab
Lenore
L
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. Lenore@unc.edu
Akbar
Jabar
J
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D015596:Nutrition Assessment
D015415:Biomarkers; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids