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Seasonal variation in consumption and plasma concentrations of fatty acids in Japanese female dietitians

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Abstract

Objective: To study seasonal variation in intake and plasma concentrations of fatty acids (FAs) in Japanese female dietitians. Subjects and methods: We assessed consumption of FAs based on four season 7 consecutive day weighed diet records from 71 Japanese female dietitians in 1996–1997. Using overnight fasting venous blood, plasma concentrations of FAs were analyzed by gas chromatography. Seasonal variation in consumption and plasma concentrations was examined by ANOVA for repeated values, followed by Tukey's multiple t-test. We calculated Spearman's partial rank correlation coefficients (CCs) between intake and plasma concentrations of FAs. Furthermore, we computed inter-seasonal Spearman's partial rank CCs for consumption and plasma concentrations of FAs. Results: Statistically significant seasonal differences were observed in consumption for most FAs, except for myristic acid, monounsaturated FAs, oleic acid, n-6 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs), linoleic acid, γ-linolenic acid, α-linolenic acid, PUFAs/saturated FAs, and n-6 PUFAs/n-3 PUFAs, and for most plasma concentrations, except for stearic acid, γ-linolenic acid, n-3 PUFAs, α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and n-3 highly unsaturated FAs (HUFAs). However, statistically significant Spearman's partial rank CCs between intake and plasma concentrations were observed for EPA, DHA, n-3 HUFAs, n-6 PUFAs/n-3 PUFAs and n-6 PUFAs/n-3 HUFAs for almost all seasons. Conclusions: Seasonal variation exists in consumption and plasma concentrations of FAs, so that this should be taken into account in epidemiological analyses, including case–control and cohort studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nagoya-bunri University, Inazawa, Japan

    Yuko Tokudome & Chiho Goto

  2. Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Japan

    Kiyonori Kuriki, Teruo Nagaya & Shinkan Tokudome

  3. Nagoya City School of Nutrition, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Japan

    Nahomi Imaeda

  4. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Japan

    Masato Ikeda

  5. Nagoya City University School of Nursing, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Japan

    Nakako Fujiwara

  6. Nagoya University Hospital, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan

    Juichi Sato

  7. Aichi Medical University, Nagakute-cho, Aichi-gun, Japan

    Shogo Kikuchi

  8. The Aichi Prefectural Dietetic Association, Kita-ku, Nagoya, Japan

    Shinzo Maki

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  1. Yuko Tokudome
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Tokudome, Y., Kuriki, K., Imaeda, N. et al. Seasonal variation in consumption and plasma concentrations of fatty acids in Japanese female dietitians. Eur J Epidemiol 18, 945–953 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025898622457

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