Food products as vehicles for n-3 fatty acid supplementation.
OBJECTIVE
An n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplement was incorporated into three food products previously determined to be preferred by cancer patients, and overall acceptability of these foods was evaluated.


METHODS
Preliminary testing was performed; an internal panel determined initial acceptability of foods with the supplement added. Taste panel evaluations were held at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta. Each participant completed a questionnaire rating aroma, flavour, and overall acceptance on a seven-point hedonic scale (1 = dislike extremely, 7 = like extremely), as well as ability to consume each food daily.


RESULTS
Foods were well-liked by patients and non-patients. Mean +/- standard deviation acceptance scores for the three foods were pasta sauce 5.9 +/- 0.94 (n=90), oatmeal 6.1 +/- 0.88 (n=79), and smoothie 5.9 +/- 1.12 (n=126). Overall, 94% of patients and non-patients gave tomato pasta sauce, oatmeal, and the smoothie an acceptance score of at least 5.


CONCLUSIONS
The supplement was incorporated successfully into three foods, which were highly accepted by patients with cancer. Further research should focus on incorporating the supplement into flavoured or sweet foods, as these appear most effective. Microencapsulated fish oil in food products may be used as an alternative to fish oil capsules for delivering n-3 PUFA in clinical trials.
Martin
Lisa
L
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Zarn
Dayna
D
Hansen
Anne Marie
AM
Wismer
Wendy
W
Mazurak
Vera
V
D002214:Capsules; D004339:Drug Compounding; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology*; D005524:Food Technology / Q000379:methods; D005527:Food, Fortified; D058870:Food, Organic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy; D009753:Nutritive Value; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*
D002214:Capsules; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils