Validation of an FFQ for evaluation of EPA and DHA intake.
OBJECTIVE
To validate an FFQ for the assessment of dietary EPA and DHA against their relative concentrations in red blood cells (RBC).


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data. Intakes of marine food products and EPA and DHA were estimated by FFQ on the basis of consumption of marine food products in the last month. Fatty acid composition of RBC membranes was quantified by GC.


METHODS
Saint-François d'Assise Hospital, Québec, Canada.


METHODS
A total of sixty-five middle-aged women who participated in a randomized clinical trial.


RESULTS
Spearman's correlation coefficient between intake of EPA, DHA and EPA + DHA and their corresponding concentration in RBC was 0.46, 0.40 and 0.42, respectively (all P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis of EPA+DHA intake and RBC EPA + DHA concentration indicated positive and significant correlations for oily fish (beta = 0.44, 95% CI 0.16, 0.72, P = 0.0027), total fish (beta = 0.42, 95% CI 0.19, 0.64, P = 0.0005) and marine food products (beta = 0.42, 95% CI 0.20, 0.64, P = 0.0003). No other marine food products significantly predicted RBC EPA + DHA concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the present validation study was undertaken among middle-aged women with low consumption of marine food products (<3 servings/week), our FFQ provided estimates of EPA and DHA intakes that correlated fairly well with their RBC concentrations. However, the absence of correlations between EPA + DHA intakes from different marine species suggests that a minimum EPA + DHA intake is necessary to observe a relationship with RBC EPA + DHA concentrations.
Lucas
Michel
M
Lucie and André Chagnon Chair for the Teaching of an Integrated Approach in Prevention, Laval University, Saint-François d'Assise Hospital (CHUQ), 45 Leclerc Street, Room D6-701, Québec, Québec, Canada. michel.lucas@crchul.ulaval.ca
Asselin
Geneviève
G
Mérette
Chantal
C
Poulin
Marie-Josée
MJ
Dodin
Sylvie
S
D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017747:Seafood; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid