title: The skinny on tuna fat: health implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dietary n-3 (omega-3) and n-6 (omega-6) PUFA have significant implications in health and disease prevention. Marine life is rich in long-chain n-3 PUFA. Children and adults in North America are reluctant fish eaters; canned tuna is a common fish in children's diets. Although a multitude of tuna products are available, their respective PUFA contents have not been well described. The aim of the present study was to compare the fatty acid (FA) profiles of different commercially available US tuna products.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fat and FA composition of eight products randomly selected from two US suppliers were analysed with capillary GC after lipid extraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Large north-eastern US grocery store chain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Canned tuna.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Energy from fat varied from 3 to 33 % and the essential FA (EFA) linoleic acid (18 : 2n-6) and α-linolenic acid (18 : 3n-3) varied tenfold. DHA varied between 90 and 770 mg/serving. The n-6:n-3 ratio was 3:1-4:1 in oil-packaged products, 2:1-7:1 in packaged tuna salads and 1:3-1:7 in water-packaged products. A similar magnitude of differences was seen in the ratio between arachidonic acid (20 : 4n-6) and DHA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Light tuna canned in water may be a better choice of providing n-3 PUFA to individuals in a healthy population, whereas oil-packaged products may be preferable for those individuals with a need for increased EFA, such as for patients with cystic fibrosis. Awareness regarding PUFA content may aid in consumer product choices and health-care provider advice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 34th and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. maqbool@email.chop.edu
authors.forename: Asim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maqbool
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strandvik
authors.forename: Virginia A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Stallings
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D057141:Food, Preserved; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D009511:New England; D017747:Seafood; D014413:Tuna; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid