title: n-3 fatty acids in human fat tissue aspirates are stable for up to 6 y.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The content of n-3 (omega-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids in fat tissue is a valid indicator of their long-term consumption. We studied the stability of n-3 fatty acids in human subcutaneous fat microbiopsies after 6 and 11 y of storage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microbiopsies were taken from a lump of human adipose tissue and stored at +20 and -80 degrees C.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 5.6 y at -80 degrees C the proportion of six out of seven highly polyunsaturated fatty acids varied between 91 and 102% (mean 97%) of their baseline values. Storage at +20 degrees C yielded recoveries between 82 and 105%. After 11 y at -80 degrees C the proportions in the original lump of tissue ranged from 88 to 101% (mean 94%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  n-3 fatty acids in stored fat tissue aspirates are stable for 6-11 y, and are suitable markers of baseline diet in long-term epidemiological studies.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Health Program, Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences, Bomenweg 2, 6703 HD Wageningen, The Netherlands. wcfs1@wur.nl
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Katan
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Harryvan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van de Bovenkamp
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3