title: Dietary patterns and fatty acids levels of three European populations. Results from the IMMIDIET study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Differences in blood fatty acids (FAs) profile among populations with different lifestyle have partly been attributed to differences in food intake. A holistic approach in dietary guidance through dietary patterns is essential. This study aimed at evaluating the main plasma and red blood cell (RBC) FAs in three European populations and assessing the role of dietary patterns in explaining variation in their levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the framework of the IMMIDIET Project, 1604 subjects (802 male-female pairs) aged 26-65 years were enrolled in Italy, Belgium and UK. Plasma and RBC FAs were measured. One year recall food frequency questionnaires were used to evaluate dietary habits of each individual.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Italian cohort showed lower plasma and RBC n-3 levels than participants of the other two populations (P<0.001). Both plasma and RBC arachidonic acid were higher in Italian cohort as compared to Belgian and English. Reduced rank regression analysis indicated two dietary patterns explaining 35% and 17% of the total variation of the sum of plasma and RBC n-3, respectively. In a holistic dietary analysis, neither fish nor mollusks intake seemed to contribute to n-3 variation as compared to vegetable oils and polyphenol-rich foods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Italian cohort presented significant lower plasma and RBC n-3 FA levels compared to Belgians and English. A holistic approach in dietary analysis seemed to explain a relatively high proportion of plasma and RBC n-3 FAs variability. Dietary pattern analysis may contribute to the study of the association of human diet with FAs levels.
authors: Laboratory of Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed, Via Dell'Elettronica, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Pounis
authors: TIMC-IMAG, Coeur et Nutrition, PRETA, CNRS 5525, Université Joseph Fourier-CNRS, Faculté de Médecine, La Tronche, France.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: de Lorgeril
authors: TIMC-IMAG, Coeur et Nutrition, PRETA, CNRS 5525, Université Joseph Fourier-CNRS, Faculté de Médecine, La Tronche, France.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Salen
authors: Département de Biochimie, Pharmacologie et Toxicologie, Hôpital Universitaire, Grenoble, France.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Laporte
authors: Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Krogh
authors: Institute of Food Sciences, CNR, Avellino, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Siani
authors: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Arnout
authors: Warwick Medical School, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors: F P
authors: FP
authors: Cappuccio
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: van Dongen
authors: Laboratory of Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed, Via Dell'Elettronica, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
authors: M B
authors: MB
authors: Donati
authors: Laboratory of Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed, Via Dell'Elettronica, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: de Gaetano
authors: Laboratory of Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed, Via Dell'Elettronica, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy. Electronic address: licia.iacoviello@moli-sani.org.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Iacoviello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D001530:Belgium; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014280:Triglycerides; D016718:Arachidonic Acid
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Dietary patterns; Neurological disease; Plasma fatty acids; Plasma n−3 fatty acids; Plasma n−6 fatty acids; n−3 Fatty acids; n−6 Fatty acids