Abstract
BackgroundThe number of children and adolescents with obesity has increased worldwide. Some studies have found an increase in the intake of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) to be beneficial for weight and obesity status. The objectives of this study were to examine if intake of trans-fatty acids (TFA) and n-3 LCPUFA at school start was associated with weight and body fat development in the following 3 and 7 years, and if substituting other fats for n-3 LCPUFA in regression models influenced weight and body fat development.MethodsA total of 285 children (boys:130, girls:155) were included in this study. Weight, height and skinfold thickness (SF) of children were measured at age 6, 9 and 13 years by trained research personnel. Multivariate linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between n-3 LCPUFA or TFA intake and subsequent changes in body mass index (BMI) or SF. To investigate substitution effects, we constructed regression models including information on n-3 LCPUFA and all other energy given components of the diet, except for the nutrient to be substituted (all other fats and specific subgroups; saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and other polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)).ResultsNo significant associations were observed between intake of TFA or n-3 LCPUFA and changes in BMI and SF. Also, results from regression analysis showed substituting other fats for n-3 LCPUFA did not associate with BMI or SF development.ConclusionThe lack of associations between n-3 LCPUFA and TFA and adiposity suggests that fat composition in the diet does not play a major role in obesity development among school-aged children.
Highlights
In the past decades, the number of children and adolescents with obesity has increased worldwide [1]
Studies in children have found that a high intake of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA)) or a higher ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to saturated fatty acids (SFAs) was related to less visceral obesity and more lean mass as well as a reduced risk of obesity [8, 9, 14]
We further examined associations with statistical substitutions of dietary intake from SFA, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and other PUFAs for n-3 LCPUFA and if the results are affected by changes in height and puberty stage
Summary
The number of children and adolescents with obesity has increased worldwide [1]. One systematic review demonstrated no association between n-3 LCPUFA and weight development [15]. This inconsistent result may result from a change in fatty acid composition when n-3 LCPUFA intake increases. In this regard a few studies among adults have found beneficial effects of replacing saturated fatty acid (SFA) with monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) or polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) on development in body weight and obesity [16, 17]. The objectives of this study were to examine if intake of trans-fatty acids (TFA) and n-3 LCPUFA at school start was associated with weight and body fat development in the following 3 and 7 years, and if substituting other fats for n-3 LCPUFA in regression models influenced weight and body fat development
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