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.
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.
Hoyos
Camilla
C
Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Australia. camillah@woolcock.org.au
Almqvist
Catarina
C
Garden
Frances
F
Xuan
Wei
W
Oddy
Wendy H
WH
Marks
Guy B
GB
Webb
Karen L
KL
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
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D010743:Phospholipids