Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dietary intakes and food sources of n−6 and n−3 PUFA in french adult men and women

  • Articles
  • Published:
Lipids

Abstract

The intake of individual n−6 and n−3 PUFA has been estimated in 4,884 adult subjects (2,099 men and 2,785 women), volunteers from the French SU.VI.MAX intervention trial. The food intakes of each subject were recorded in at least ten 24-h record questionnaires completed over a period of 2.5 yr, allowing the estimation of the daily intake of energy; total fat; and linoleic, α-linolenic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic (EPA), n−3 docosapentaenoic (DPA), and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. The mean total fat intake corresponded to 94.1 g/d (36.3% of total energy intake) in men and 73.4 g/d (38.1% of energy) in women. The intake of linoleic acid was 10.6 g/d in men and 8.1 g/d in women, representing 4.2% of energy intake; that of α-linolenic acid was 0.94 g/d in men and 0.74 g/d in women, representing 0.37% of energy intake, with a mean linoleic/α-linolenic acid ratio of 11.3. The mean intakes of long-chain PUFA were: arachidonic acid, 204 mg/d in men and 152 mg/d in women; EPA, 150 mg/d in men and 118 mg/d in women; DPA, 75 mg/d in men and 56 mg/d in women; DHA, 273 mg/d in men and 226 mg/d in women; long-chain n−3 PUFA, 497 mg/d in men and 400 mg/d in women. Ninety-five percent of the sample consumed less than 0.5% of energy as α-linolenic acid, which is well below the current French recommendation for adults (0.8% of energy). In contrast, the mean intakes of long-chain n−6 and n−3 PUFA appear fairly high and fit the current French recommendations (total long-chain PUFA: 500 mg/d in men and 400 mg/d in women; DHA: 120 mg/d in men and 100 mg/d in women). The intakes of α-linolenic acid, and to a lesser extent of linoleic acid, were highly correlated with that of lipids. Whereas the main source of linoleic acid was vegetable oils, all food types contributed to α-linolenic acid intake, the main ones being animal products (meat, poultry, and dairy products). The main source of EPA and DHA (and of total long-chain n−3 PUFA) was fish and seafood, but the major source of DPA was meat, poultry, and eggs. Fish and seafood consumption showed very large interindividual variations, the low consumers being at risk of insufficient n−3 PUFA intake.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid

DPA:

n−3 docosapentaenoic acid

EFA:

essential fatty acids

EPA:

eicosapentaenoic acid

PUFA:

polyunsaturated FA

References

  1. Carroll, D.N., and Roth, M.T. (2002) Evidence for Cardioprotective Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Ann. Pharmacother. 36, 1950–1956.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Simopoulos, A.P. (2002) The Importance of the Ratio of Omega-6/Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids, Biomed. Pharmacother. 56, 365–379.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kris-Etherton, P.M., Shaffer Taylor, D., and Yu-Poth, S. (2000) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Food Chain in the United States, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 71, 179S-189S.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Sanders, T.A.B. (2000) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Food Chain in Europe, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 71, 176S-178S.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Legrand, P., Bourre, J.M., Descomps, B., Durand, G., and Renaud, S. (2001) Lipides, in Apports nutritionnels conseillés pour la population françaide, 3rd edn. (Martin, A., ed.), pp. 63–82, Tec & Doc, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Simopoulos, A.P., Leaf, A., and Salem, N., Jr. (1999) Workshop on the Essentiality of and Recommended Dietary Intakes for Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids, J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 18, 487–489.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Combe, N., and Boué, C. (2001) Apports alimentaires en acides linoléique et alpha-linolénique d'une population d'Aquitaine, Oléag. Corps Gras Lipides 8, 118–121.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Knutsen, S.F., Fraser, G.E., Beeson, W.L., Lindsted, K.D., and Shavlik, D.J. (2003) Comparison of Adipose Tissue Fatty Acids with Dietary Fatty Acids as Measured by 24-Hour Recall and Food Frequency Questionnaire in Black and White Adventists: the Adventist Health Study, Ann. Epidemiol. 13, 119–127.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Okita, M., Yoshida, S., Yamamoto, J. Suzuki, K., Kaneyuki, T., Kubota, M., and Sasagawa, T. (1995) n−3 and n−6 Fatty Acid Intake and Serum Phospholipid Fatty Acid Composition in Middle-Aged Women Living in Rural and Urban Areas in Okayama Prefecture, J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. (Tokyo) 41, 313–323.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kobayashi, M., Sasaki, S., Kawabata, T., Hasegawa, K., and Tsugane, S. (2003) Validity of a Self-Administered Food Frequency Questionnaire Used in the 5-Year Follow-up Survey of the JPHC Study Cohort I to Assess Fatty Acid Intake: Comparison with Dietary Records and Serum Phospholipid Level, J. Epidemiol. 13, S64-S81.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. De Vriese, S.R., De Henauw, S., De Backer, G., Dhont, M., and Christophe, A.B. (2001) Estimation of Dietary Fat Intake of Belgian Pregnant Women. Comparison of Two Methods, Ann. Nutr. Metab. 45, 273–278.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Linseisen, J., Schulze, M.B., Saadatian-Elahi, M., Kroke, A., Miller, A.B., and Boeing, H. (2003) Quantity and Quality of Dietary Fat, Carbohydrate, and Fiber Intake in the German EPIC Cohorts, Ann. Nutr. Metab. 47, 37–46.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Innis, S.M., and Elias, S.L. (2003) Intakes of Essential n−6 and n−3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Among Pregnant Canadian Women, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 77, 473–478.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Johansson, L.R., Solvoll, K., Bjorneboe, G.E., and Drevon, C.A. (1998) Intake of Very-Long-Chain n−3 Fatty Acids Related to Social Status and Lifestyle, Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 52, 716–721.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Meyer, B.J., Mann, N.J., Lewis, J.L., Milligan, G.C., Sinclair, A.J., and Howe, P.R. (2003) Dietary Intakes and Food Sources of Omega-6 and Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Lipids 38, 391–398.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Hercberg, S., Preziosi, P., Briancon, S., Galan, P., Triol, I., Malvy, D., Roussel, A.M., and Favier, A. (1998) A Primary Prevention Trial Using Nutritional Doses of Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals in Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancers in a General Population: The SU.VI.MAX Study—Design, Methods, and Participant Characteristics. SUpplementation en VItamines et Mineraux AntioXydants, Control Clin. Trials 19, 336–351.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Le Moullec, N., Deheeger, M., Preziosi, P., Monteiro, P., Valeix, P., Rolland-Cachera, M.-F., Potier de Courcy, G., Christidès, J.-P., Cherouvrier, F., Galan, P., and Hercberg, S. (1996) Validation du manuel-photos utilisé pour l'enquête alimentaire de l'étude SU.VI.MAX, Cah. Nutr. Diét. 31, 158–164.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Mennen, L.I., Bertrais, S., Galan, P., Arnault, N., Potier de Courcy, G., and Hercberg, S. (2004) The Use of Computerised 24 h Dietary Recalls in the French SU.VI.MAX Study: Number of Recalls Required, Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 56, 659–665.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hercberg, S. (2004) Table de composition des aliments SUVI-MAX, Editions INSERM, Paris, in press (the part of the table dealing with total fat and n−6 and n−3 PUFA can be obtained from P. Astorg on request, in the form of an Excel file).

  20. Favier, J.C., Ireland-Ripert, J., Toque, C., and Feinberg, M. (1995) Répertoire général des aliments, table de composition, 2nd edn., Tec & Doc, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Ireland, J., Favier, J.C., and Feinberg, M. (2002) Répertoire général des aliments. Tome 2: Produits laitiers, Tec & Doc, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  22. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 16, 2003. Netlink: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp (accessed March–June 2003).

  23. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, (2004) Fatty Acids. Supplement to McCance & Widdowson's The Composition of Foods, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ma, J., Folsom, A.R., Shahar, E., and Eckfeldt, J.H., and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study Investigators (1995) Plasma Fatty Acid Composition as an Indicator of Habitual Dietary Fat Intake in Middle-Aged Adults. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study Investigators, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 62, 564–571.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ollis, T.E., Meyer, B.J., and Howe, P.R. (1999) Australian Food Sources and Intakes of Omega-6 and Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Ann. Nutr. Metab 43, 346–355.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Tokudome, Y., Imaeda, N., Ikeda, M., Kitagawa, I., Fujiwara, N., and Tokudome, S. (1999) Foods Contributing to Absolute Intake and Variance in Intake of Fat, Fatty Acids and Cholesterol in Middle-Aged Japanese, J. Epidemiol. 9, 78–90.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Voskuil, D.W., Feskens, E.J., Katan, M.B., and Kromhout, D. (1996) Intake and Sources of α-Linolenic Acid in Dutch Elderly Men, Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 50, 784–787.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Hulshof, K.F.A.M., van Erp-Baart, M.A., Anttolainen, M., Becker, W., Church, S.M., Couet, C., Herrmann-Kunz, E., Kesteloot, H., Leth, T., and Martins, I. (1999) Intake of Fatty Acids in Western Europe with Emphasis on trans Fatty Acids: The TRANSFAIR Study, Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 53, 143–157.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Sugano, M. (1996) Characteristics of Fats in Japanese Diets and Current Recommendations, Lipids 31, S283-S286.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Sugano, M., and Hirahara, F. (2000) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Food Chain in Japan, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 71, 189S-196S.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Tokudome, Y., Kuriki, K., Imaeda, N., Ikeda, M., Nagaya, T., Fujiwara, N., Sato, J., Goto, C., Kikuchi, S., Maki, S., and Tokudome, S. (2003) Seasonal Variation in Consumption and Plasma Concentrations of Fatty Acids in Japanese Female Dietitians, Eur. J. Epidemiol. 18, 945–953.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Kuriki, K., Nagaya, T., Topkudome, Y., Imaeda, N., Fujiwara, N., Sato, J., Goto, C., Ikeda, M., Maki, S., Tajima, K., and Tokudome, S. (2003) Plasma Concentrations of (n−3) Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids Are Good Biomarkers of Relative Dietary Fatty Acid Intakes: A Cross-Sectional Study, J. Nutr. 133, 3643–3650.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Linseisen, J., Bergstrom, E., Gafa, L., Gonzalez, C.A., Thiebaut, A., Trichopoulou, A., Tumino, R., Navarro, S.C., Martinez, G.C., Mattisson, I., et al. (2002) Consumption of Added Fats and Oils in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Centres Across 10 European Countries as Assessed by 24-Hour Dietary Recalls, Public Health Nutr. 5, 1227–1242.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Amiano, P., Dorronsoro, M., de Renobales, M., Ruiz de Gordoa, J.C., Irigoyen, I., and and the EPIC Group of Spain (2001) Very-Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids as Markers for Habitual Fish Intake in a Population Consuming Mainly Lean Fish: The EPIC Cohort of Gipuzkoa, Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 55, 827–832.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Mann, N.J., Johnson, L.G., Warrick, G.E., and Sinclair, A.J. (1995) The Arachidonic Acid Content of the Australian Diet Is Lower than Previously Estimated, J. Nutr. 125, 2528–2535.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Li, D., Zhang, H., Hsu-Hage, B.H., Wahlqvist, M.L., and Sinclair, A.J. (2001) The Influence of Fish, Meat and Polyunsaturated Fat Intakes on Platelet Phospholipid Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Male Melbourne Chinese and Caucasian, Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 55, 1036–1042.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Li, D., Ng, A., Mann, N.J., and Sinclair, A.J. (1998) Contribution of Meat Fat to Dietary Arachidonic Acid, Lipids 33, 437–440.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Welch, A., Lund, E., Amiano, P., Dorronsoro, M., Brustad, M., Kumle, M., Rodriguez, M., Lasheras, C., Janzon, N., Jansson, J., and Luben, R. (2002) Variability of Fish Consumption Within the 10 European Countries Participating in the European Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study, Public Health Nutr. 5, 1273–1285.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Brenna, J.T. (2002) Efficiency of Conversion of α-Linolenic to Long-Chain n−3 Fatty Acids in Man, Curr. Opin. Clin. Nutr. Metab. Care 5, 127–132.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Pawlosky, R.J., Hibbeln, J.R., Lin, Y., Goodson, S., Riggs, P., Sebring, N., Brown, G.L., and Salem, N., Jr. (2003) Effects of Beef- and Fish-Based Diets on the Kinetics of n−3 Fatty Acid Metabolism in Human Subjects, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 77, 565–572.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Sinclair, A.J., Attar-Bashi, A.M., and Li, D. (2002) What Is the Role of α-Linolenic Acid for Mammals?, Lipids 37, 1113–1123.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR INSERM 557/INRA/CNAM Epidémiologie Nutritionnelle, Institut Scientifique et Technique de la Nutrition et de l'Alimentation (ISTNA), Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM), 5 rue du Vertbois, 75003, Paris, France

    Pierre Astorg, Nathalie Arnault, Sébastien Czernichow, Nathalie Noisette, Pilar Galan & Serge Hercberg

Authors
  1. Pierre Astorg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nathalie Arnault
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sébastien Czernichow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nathalie Noisette
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Pilar Galan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Serge Hercberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pierre Astorg.

About this article

Cite this article

Astorg, P., Arnault, N., Czernichow, S. et al. Dietary intakes and food sources of n−6 and n−3 PUFA in french adult men and women. Lipids 39, 527–535 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-004-1259-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-004-1259-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation