Food database of N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamines, N-acylethanolamines and endocannabinoids and daily intake from a Western, a Mediterranean and a vegetarian diet

Abstract

The contents of N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs), N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) and endocannabinoids (ECs) in 43 food products were assessed and daily intakes, based on consumption of Mediterranean, vegetarian and Western diets, were simulated. NAPEs and NAEs were more abundant in plant-based foods than in animal food products; NAPEs were in the ranges 0–4032 vs 4–398 µg/g dw and NAEs were in the ranges 0–35 vs 0.1–0.7 µg/g dw, respectively while ECs were in the range 0–0.1 vs 0–34 µg/g dw. Daily intakes of NAPEs and NAEs were higher from Mediterranean (263 and 0.25 mg/day) and vegetarian (242 and 0.28 mg/day) diets than the Western diet (163 and 0.08 mg/day). Conversely, ECs intakes were higher from Western and Mediterranean diets (0.17 mg/day) than the vegetarian diet (0.01 mg/day). Future studies will evaluate the physiological role of dietary NAPEs, NAEs and ECs in humans.