title: Effect of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acid intakes from diet and supplements on plasma fatty acid levels in the first 3 years of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The optimal method for conducting omega (n-)3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation trials in children is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of n-3 and n-6 PUFA intake from the background diet on plasma levels of n-3 and n-6 PUFA in children aged 0-3 years, with and without n-3 supplementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were randomised antenatally to receive either n-3 PUFA supplements and low n-6 PUFA cooking oils and spreads or a control intervention, designed to maintain usual fatty acid intake. Dietary intake was assessed at 18 months by 3-day weighed food record and at 3 years by food frequency questionnaire. Plasma phospholipids were measured at both time points. Associations were tested by regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  N-3 PUFA intake from background diet did not significantly affect plasma n-3 levels. In contrast, n-6 PUFA intake in background diet was positively related to plasma n-6 levels in both study groups. In addition, n-6 PUFA intake from diet was negatively associated with plasma n-3 levels at 18 months and 3 years (-0.16%/g n-6 intake, 95%CI -0.29 to -0.03 and -0.05%/g n-6 intake, 95%CI -0.09 to -0.01, respectively) in the active group, but not in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions intending to increase plasma n-3 PUFA in children by n-3 supplementation should also minimise n-6 PUFA intake in the background diet.
authors.affiliation: Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Australia. camillah@woolcock.org.au
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoyos
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almqvist
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garden
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.forename: Wendy H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Oddy
authors.forename: Guy B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D010743:Phospholipids