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Erythrocyte levels compared with reported dietary intake of marine n-3 fatty acids in pregnant women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Sjúrdúr F. Olsen* ,
Harald S. Hansen ,
Brittmarie Sandström  and
Benny Jensen
Sjúrdúr F. Olsen*
Affiliation:
Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Århus, Høegh-Guldbergsgade 8, DK-Århus C., Denmark
Harald S. Hansen
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen, Denmark
Brittmarie Sandström
Affiliation:
Research Department of Human Nutrition, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark
Benny Jensen
Affiliation:
Technological Laboratory, Ministry of Fisheries, Technical University, Lyngby, Denmark
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Abstract

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It is well established that marine n-3 fatty acids measured in erythrocyte phospholipids of non-pregnant subjects reflect the subjects intake of these fatty acids. In 135 pregnant women in the 30th week of gestation we compared intake of marine n-3 fatty acids and energy, estimated by a combined dietary self-administered questionnaire and interview, with fatty acids measured in erythrocyte phospholipids. Daily intake (g/d) and nutrient density of marine n-3 fatty acids (mg/MJ) correlated with the n-3 fatty acid: arachidonic acid ratio (FA-ratio) with correlation coefficients of 0·48 and 0·54 respectively. In a linear regression model with three frequency questions about marine sandwiches, marine cooked meals and fish oil as explanatory variables, and the FA-ratio as dependent variable, the multiple correlation coefficient was 0·46. Conclusions from the study were (1) levels of erythrocyte fatty acids in pregnant women may be employed as a qualitative method to rank subjects according to intake of marine n-3 fatty acids; (2) with respect to the power to explain FA-ratio variability, three simple marine food frequency questions were comparable with intake of marine n-3 fatty acids assessed by an elaborate semiquantitative dietary method involving an interview.

Keywords

Dietary methodsErythrocytesMarine n-3 fatty acidsPregnancy
Type
Effects of fatty acid composition of the diet
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 73 , Issue 3 , March 1995 , pp. 387 - 395
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1995

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