Australians are not Meeting the Recommended Intakes for Omega-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Results of an Analysis from the 2011-2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey.

Barbara Meyer

doi:10.3390/nu8030111

Abstract

Health benefits have been attributed to omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA). Therefore it is important to know if Australians are currently meeting the recommended intake for n-3 LCPUFA and if they have increased since the last National Nutrition Survey in 1995 (NNS 1995). Dietary intake data was obtained from the recent 2011–2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (2011–2012 NNPAS). Linoleic acid (LA) intakes have decreased whilst alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) and n-3 LCPUFA intakes have increased primarily due to n-3 LCPUFA supplements. The median n-3 LCPUFA intakes are less than 50% of the mean n-3 LCPUFA intakes which highlights the highly-skewed n-3 LCPUFA intakes, which shows that there are some people consuming high amounts of n-3 LCPUFA, but the vast majority of the population are consuming much lower amounts. Only 20% of the population meets the recommended n-3 LCPUFA intakes and only 10% of women of childbearing age meet the recommended docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake. Fish and seafood is by far the richest source of n-3 LCPUFA including DHA.

Highlights

Dietary fatty acids consist of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), where the PUFA comprise of omega-6 (n-6) and omega-3 (n-3) PUFA
The n-3 long-chain PUFA (n-3 LCPUFA) comprise of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and are referred to as the marine sources of n-3 PUFA. This distinction between linolenic acid (LNA) and n-3 LCPUFA is necessary because the majority of health benefits have been attributed to the n-3 LCPUFA rather than to LNA
The vast majority of health benefits attributed to n-3 LCPUFA is in cardiovascular disease

Summary

Introduction

Dietary fatty acids consist of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), where the PUFA comprise of omega-6 (n-6) and omega-3 (n-3) PUFA. The major dietary n-6 PUFA are linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA), whilst the major dietary n-3 PUFA are alpha-linoleic acid (LNA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) [1]. The n-3 long-chain PUFA (n-3 LCPUFA) comprise of EPA, DPA, and DHA, and are referred to as the marine sources of n-3 PUFA. This distinction between LNA and n-3 LCPUFA is necessary because the majority of health benefits have been attributed to the n-3 LCPUFA rather than to LNA. The vast majority of health benefits attributed to n-3 LCPUFA is in cardiovascular disease. There is emerging evidence for the benefits of n-3 LCPUFA in mental health [8]

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Results

Conclusion