title: Plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty status and its relationship with vitamin E intake and plasma level.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate habitual vitamin E intake and plasma α-tocopherol concentration and their relationship with plasma fatty acid profile in a healthy adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vitamin E and fatty acid intake data were determined from the National Adult Nutrition Survey. Plasma α- and γ-tocopherol concentrations were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography and the percentage of fatty acids in plasma by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Participants (n = 601) were divided into vitamin E intake quartiles and plasma α-tocopherol quartiles, and differences in fatty acid intake and plasma fatty acid profile were analyzed by a general linear model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dietary intake data showed that as vitamin E intake increased, intakes of total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and α-linolenic acid increased significantly (p < 0.001), but eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) did not. After adjusting for fatty acid intake, vitamin E intake was positively related to plasma n-3 PUFA (EPA and DHA) levels and plasma n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio. Plasma α-tocopherol concentration was positively related to the percentage of plasma total PUFA, n-3 PUFA and EPA and inversely related to the percentage of plasma n-6 PUFA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study illustrates that there are statistical relationships between plasma fatty acid profile and both vitamin E intake and plasma α-tocopherol concentration. Vitamin E may play a role in the maintenance of plasma n-3 PUFA profile in humans with consequent desirable health effects.
authors.affiliation: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Monahan
authors.affiliation: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Breige A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: McNulty
authors.affiliation: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Kaifeng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Chemical Analysis Laboratories Ltd, Hudson Road, Sandycove, Co Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Frederick J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
authors.affiliation: Chemical Analysis Laboratories Ltd, Hudson Road, Sandycove, Co Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.affiliation: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.affiliation: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Anne P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Nugent
authors.affiliation: UCD Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland. eileen.gibney@ucd.ie.
authors.forename: Eileen R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Gibney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D014810:Vitamin E; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: DHA; EPA; Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Vitamin E intake; n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio; α-Tocopherol