title: Dietary fat intake, circulating and membrane fatty acid composition of healthy Norwegian men and women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to assess the dietary fat intake and blood fatty acid status of healthy Norwegian men and women living in Bergen whose habitual diet is known to be high in long-chain omega-3 fat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy men (n = 41) and women (n = 40) aged 20-50 years who were regular blood donors completed 7-day food diaries and their nutrient intake was analysed by Norwegian food database software, kbs, version 4.9 (kostberegningssystem; University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway). Blood samples were obtained before blood donation and assessed for the fatty acid composition of plasma triglycerides and cholesterol esters, phosphatidylcholine, and red cell phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in dietary fat intake between men and women. Total and saturated fat intakes exceeded the upper limits of the recommendations of the National Nutrition Council of Norway. Although polyunsaturated fat intake was close to the lower limit of the recommended level, the intake varied greatly among individuals, partly as a result of the use of supplementary fish oil. Moreover, the proportional fatty acid composition of plasma and red cell lipids was similar between men and women. Enrichment of docosahexaenoic acid in red cell phosphatidylethanolamine was found in fish oil users.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study provide a snapshot of the current nutritional status of healthy Norwegian adults. Moreover, the detailed blood fatty acid composition of men and women whose habitual diet constitutes high long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fat as well as saturated fat could be used as reference value for population studies.
authors.affiliation: Lipidomics and Nutrition Research Centre, Faculty of Life Sciences and Computing, London Metropolitan University, London, UK.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blois
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geppert
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghebremeskel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Holmsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000097:blood; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005395:Fish Oils; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D014280:Triglycerides; C483858:phosphatidylethanolamine
keywords: Norwegian; diet; fatty acids; neutral lipids; phospholipids