Erythrocyte membrane fatty acid incorporation as a marker of fish diet in young overweight europeans

It is now widely accepted that dietary supplementation with fish or fish products reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This beneficial effect has been attributed to the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content (n-3 PUFA). Volunteers (190) from 3 European countries: Iceland (78), Ireland (42) and Spain (70), were included in 3 controlled diets with 30% caloric restriction, one with lean fish (cod), one with fatty fish (salmon), and another without fish but with high oleic sunflower oil capsules. Salmon diet was responsible for a statistical significant increase of total n-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5n-3) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6n-3, p < 0.001) in erythrocytes membrane fatty acids prepared from volunteers' blood. On the other hand, total n-6 fatty acids decreased significantly (p < 0.001) and AA (arachidonic acid, p = 0.021) was mainly responsible for this result. Cod diet significantly increased DHA level (p < 0.001), showing that this fatty acid is a good marker of fish consumption, even of fish species with a low fat content. A diet without fish incorporation for two months promoted a significant increase of AA (p < 0.001) and a decline of n-3 PUFA (p < 0.001). doi:10.1300/J030v16n04_02