title: Omega-3 fatty acids from fish, other nutrient intake, and lifestyle factors: exploring the relationship in children.
abstract: The omega-3 fatty acids found mostly in seafood are essential nutrients that may help prevent or control a number of diseases; however, the evidence for this is not conclusive. The positive effects may be because of other dietary and lifestyle factors. Therefore, we investigated the association between fish intake and other nutrition indicators and lifestyle and demographic factors among children. The study employed grade-4 student data of the 2000-2004 Hawaii Nutrition Education Needs Assessment Survey. In a sample 666 children (mean age = 9.57 ± 0.06 years, 55.6% female, 62.4% Asian/Pacific Islander), analysis indicated that fish consumption is positively associated with healthy lifestyle indicators, such as physical activity and a healthy body mass index. Fish consumption is also positively associated with protein and kilocalories intake but not with fruits and vegetables consumption. Findings suggest that the positive health behaviors linked to fish consumption may lie more in physical activity than in diet behaviors. Given that fish consumption is important for children, interventions promoting fish consumption in a balanced diet with fruit and vegetable, as well as other positive lifestyle behaviors are warranted.
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Hai V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Cara S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Morris
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saka
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Md
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahabub-ul Anwar
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA cnigg@hawaii.edu.
authors.forename: Claudio R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Nigg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006254:Hawaii; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D017747:Seafood
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
keywords: fish consumption; healthy lifestyle; nutrition; omega-3 fatty acids; physical activity