title: Direct quantitation of omega-3 fatty acid intake of Canadian residents of a long-term care facility.
abstract: An increased dietary intake of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA; >or=20 carbons, >or=3 carbon-carbon double bonds), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3), is associated with the decreased risk and incidence of several morbidities afflicting the elderly, including cognitive decline, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and macular degeneration. In this study, the dietary intake and blood levels of fatty acids were directly determined in residents of a retirement home or assisted living phase of a continuum of care facility for Canadian seniors. Finger-tip-prick blood samples, 3-day food duplicates, and 3-day food records were collected. The fatty acid composition of food duplicates and blood was determined by gas chromatography. Fifteen participants (7 male, 8 female; 87.1 +/- 4.8 years of age) completed the protocol. The daily intake of EPA and DHA combined, determined directly, was 70 mg (95% CI, 41-119) or 0.036% of total energy (95% CI, 0.022-0.058). In finger-tip-prick blood, the percent of n-3 HUFA in total HUFA of whole blood, a biomarker of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status, was 28.8 +/- 5.2%. Correlations between daily n-3 HUFA intake and n-3 HUFA in blood were not significant (r = 0.14; n = 15), but became significant after the removal of 2 participants who appeared to consume fish irregularly (r = 0.59; n = 13). The n-3 HUFA intake and corresponding n-3 HUFA blood levels of Canadian long-term care residents are lower than levels estimated to prevent several morbidities associated with aging.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nutritional and Nutraceutical Research, Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo, ON N2L3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fratesi
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Hogg
authors.forename: Genevieve S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Young-Newton
authors.forename: Ashley C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Payman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Charkhzarin
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Block Thomas
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sharratt
authors.forename: Ken D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Stark
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002170:Canada; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid