The use of novel foods enriched with long-chain n-3 fatty acids to increase dietary intake: a comparison of methodologies assessing nutrient intake.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of consuming a variety of foods enriched in long-chain n-3 fatty acids in low fish eaters.


METHODS
Evaluation of reported dietary intakes in a 6-month, double-blind, randomized, controlled parallel design trial.


METHODS
Eighty-five men and women with overweight and mildly elevated triglyceride levels who have a low habitual intake of fish.


METHODS
Subjects were randomized to consume foods either enriched in long-chain n-3 fats or control foods (not enriched). Subjects were asked to consume eight portions per day (equivalent to approximately 1 g/day long-chain n-3 fatty acid if randomized to the intervention).


METHODS
Reported energy, macronutrient, and fatty acid intakes were measured by diet history, 3-day food records, and body weight.


METHODS
Repeated measures analysis of variance, Kruskall-Wallis test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman plots were conducted.


RESULTS
The two groups did not differ in mean dietary intake of long-chain n-3 fatty acid intake at baseline (258 mg and 313 mg for the intervention and control groups, respectively). At 6 months the intervention group members increased their intake of long-chain n-3 fats 4.5-fold compared with baseline and with the control group (P<.001). The data from the diet histories correlated well with the food records for all reported macronutrient and fatty acid values. Food pattern analysis showed that milk (13.8%), cereal (12.1%), and bread (11.3%) contributed the most to the overall long-chain n-3 fatty acid intake in the intervention group.


CONCLUSIONS
This long-term study in free-living subjects indicates that population intakes of long-chain n-3 fatty acids could be substantially increased through the availability of a variety of n-3 fatty acid-enriched processed foods.
Patch
Craig S
CS
National Centre of Excellence in Functional Foods, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. cpatch@nceff.com.au
Tapsell
Linda C
LC
Mori
Trevor A
TA
Meyer
Barbara J
BJ
Murphy
Karen J
KJ
Mansour
Jackie
J
Noakes
Manny
M
Clifton
Peter M
PM
Puddey
Ian B
IB
Beilin
Lawrence J
LJ
Annison
Geoffrey
G
Howe
Peter R C
PR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015930:Diet Records; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid