Omega-3 fatty acid supply from milk associates with lower type 2 diabetes in men and coronary heart disease in women.
BACKGROUND
Omega-3 fatty acids may prevent type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD). We investigated these fatty acids in Nordic cow's milk and whether their supply from milk associates with type 2 diabetes prevalence and CHD mortality in the Nordic countries.


METHODS
Samples (N = 84) of consumers' milk were collected in five Nordic countries four times during 1 year. Fatty acids were analyzed using gas chromatography. Fatty acids supply from milk fat was calculated using national food balance sheets.


RESULTS
The omega-3 fatty acids content was higher and omega-6 fatty acid content was lower in Icelandic milk when compared with milk from other Nordic countries. Type 2 diabetes prevalence in men correlated inversely with the supply of omega-3 fatty acids and eicosapentaenic acid, but positively with omega-6/omega-3 ratio in milk. CHD mortality in women correlated inversely with the supply of eicosapentaenic acid but positively with the omega-6/omega-3 ratio.


CONCLUSIONS
Milk fatty acids content can depend upon the origin of the milk. The higher supply of omega-3 fatty acids from milk might explain the lower type 2 diabetes prevalence and CHD mortality in Iceland compared to the other Nordic countries.
Unit for Nutrition Research, Landspitali-University Hospital and Department of Food Science, University of Iceland, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland. ingathor@landspitali.is
Inga
I
Thorsdottir
Jeremy
J
Hill
Alfons
A
Ramel
D000818:Animals; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3