Four Models Including Fish, Seafood, Red Meat and Enriched Foods to Achieve Australian Dietary Recommendations for n-3 LCPUFA for All Life-Stages.
Populations are not meeting recommended intakes of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA). The aim was (i) to develop a database on n-3 LCPUFA enriched products; (ii) to undertake dietary modelling exercise using four dietary approaches to meet the recommendations and (iii) to determine the cost of the models. Six n-3 LCPUFA enriched foods were identified. Fish was categorised by n-3 LCPUFA content (mg/100 g categories as "excellent" "good" and "moderate"). The four models to meet recommended n-3 LCPUFA intakes were (i) fish only; (ii) moderate fish (with red meat and enriched foods); (iii) fish avoiders (red meat and enriched foods only); and (iv) lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (enriched foods only). Diets were modelled using the NUTTAB2010 database and n-3 LCPUFA were calculated and compared to the Suggested Dietary Targets (SDT). The cost of meeting these recommendations was calculated per 100 mg n-3 LCPUFA. The SDT were achieved for all life-stages with all four models. The weekly food intake in number of serves to meet the n-3 LCPUFA SDT for all life-stages for each dietary model were: (i) 2 "excellent" fish; (ii) 1 "excellent" and 1 "good" fish, and depending on life-stage, 3-4 lean red meat, 0-2 eggs and 3-26 enriched foods; (iii) 4 lean red meat, and 20-59 enriched foods; (iv) 37-66 enriched foods. Recommended intakes of n-3 LCPUFA were easily met by the consumption of fish, which was the cheapest source of n-3 LCPUFA. Other strategies may be required to achieve the recommendations including modifying the current food supply through feeding practices, novel plant sources and more enriched foods.
Nutrition Research Australia, Level 13/167 Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia. flavia@nraus.com.
Flavia
F
Fayet-Moore
CSIRO and consultant, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
Katrine
K
Baghurst
School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
Barbara J
BJ
Meyer
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005399:Fishes; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D000069466:Red Meat; D017747:Seafood
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
dietary modelling; omega-3 (n-3) enriched foods; omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA); recommended intakes; suggested dietary target intakes