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Dietary intakes and food sources of fatty acids for Belgian women, focused on n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

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Lipids

Abstract

The intake of fat, saturated and monounsaturated FA (SFA and MUFA), and omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA has been estimated in 641 Belgian women (age 18-39 y). Their food intake was recorded using a 2-d food diary. The PUFA included were linoleic (LA), alpha-linolenic (LNA), arachidonic (AA), eicosapentaeonoic (EPA), docosapentaenoic (DPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. The mean total fat intake corresponded to 34.3% of total energy intake (E). The mean intake of the FA groups corresponded to 13.7%, 13.1%, and 6.0% of E, for SFA, MUFA, and PUFA, respectively. The mean intake of LA was 5.3% of E and of LNA was 0.6% of E, with a mean LA/LNA ratio of 8.7. The mean intake of AA was 0.03% of E. The mean intake of EPA, DPA, and DHA was 0.4%, 0.01%, and 0.06% of E, respectively. According to the Belgian recommendations, the total fat and SFA intake was too high for about three-quarters of the population. The mean LA and overall n-6 PUFA intake corresponded with the recommendation, with part of the population exceeding the upper level. Conversely, the population showed a large deficit for LNA and n-3 PUFA. The major food source for LA and LNA was fats and oils, followed by cereal products. The main sources of long-chain PUFA were fish and seafood, and meat, poultry, and eggs. From a public health perspective, it seems desirable to tackle the problem of low n-3 PUFA intake.

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Abbreviations

AA:

arachidonic acid

DPA:

docosapentaenoic acid

E:

total energy intake

FCDB:

food composition database; long-chain PUFA

LC PUFA:

linoleic acid

LA:

alpha-linolenic acid

LNA:

MUFA, monounsaturated FA

SFA:

saturated FA

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Isabelle A. Sioen & John Van Camp

  2. Department of Public Health, Ghent University, UZ-2 Blok A, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

    Isabelle A. Sioen, Hse Pynaert, Christophe matthys, Guy De Backer & Sterfaan De Henauw

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  1. Isabelle A. Sioen
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  2. Hse Pynaert
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  6. Sterfaan De Henauw
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Correspondence to Isabelle A. Sioen.

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Sioen, I.A., Pynaert, H., matthys, C. et al. Dietary intakes and food sources of fatty acids for Belgian women, focused on n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Lipids 41, 415–422 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-006-5115-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-006-5115-5

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