Dietary fish intake and plasma phospholipid n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in men and women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk United Kingdom cohort.
BACKGROUND
The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, found in fish and fish-oil supplements and also formed by conversion of alpha-linolenic acid in soy and rapeseed (canola) oils, are thought to have cardioprotective effects.


OBJECTIVE
Because the relative feasibility and measurement error of dietary methods varies, this study compared fish and fish-oil intakes obtained from 4 dietary methods with plasma n-3 PUFAs in men and women in a general population.


METHODS
The study participants were 4949 men and women aged 40-79 y from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk United Kingdom cohort. Measurements of plasma phospholipid n-3 PUFA concentrations and fish intakes were made with the use of 4 dietary methods (food-frequency questionnaire, health and lifestyle questionnaire, 7-d diary, and first-day recall from the 7-d diary).


RESULTS
Amounts of fish consumed and relations with plasma phospholipid n-3 PUFAs were not substantially different between the 4 dietary methods. Plasma n-3 PUFA concentrations were significantly higher in women than in men, were 20% higher in fish-oil consumers than in non-fish-oil consumers, and were twice as high in fatty fish consumers as in total fish consumers. Only approximately 25% of the variation in plasma n-3 PUFA was explained by fish and fish-oil consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
This large study found no substantial differences between dietary methods and observed clear sex differences in plasma n-3 PUFAs. Because variation in n-3 PUFA was only partially determined by fish and fish-oil consumption, this could explain the inconsistent results of observational and intervention studies on coronary artery disease protection.
Welch
Ailsa A
AA
Department of Public Health and Primary Care and the Clinical Gerontology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom. ailsa.welch@phpc.cam.ac.uk
Bingham
Sheila A
SA
Ive
Jessica
J
Friesen
Marlin D
MD
Wareham
Nick J
NJ
Riboli
Elio
E
Khaw
K T
KT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017747:Seafood; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils