N-3 pufa status predicts non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in older Australians

Abstract

s / Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism 1 (2014) 1e55 9 4 School of Environmental& Life Sciences, UniversityofNewcastle, NSW,Australia E-mail: Edwina.Mingay@uon.edu.au (E. Mingay) Background/Aims: Restricting energy intake for weight management in older people is neither safe nor practical as nutrient depletion may result in impairment of an already compromised immune system. Alternative strategies to combat adiposity without pre-disposing older people to infectious diseases are warranted. n-3PUFA may play an important role through their impact on increased fat oxidation and reduced inflammation. This study aimed to examine the relationship between n-3PUFA status and anthropometric measures in an older population. Methods: Older adults (n 1⁄4 620; age 65-95 years; 56.3% females) from the Central Coast region, NSW, Australia were recruited. Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, BMI, waist (WC) and hip circumference (HC) were taken. The fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes was analysed via GC to determine n-3PUFA status (%EPA plus % DHA). Results: A negative association was detected between n-3PUFA status and anthropometric measures: BMI (r 1⁄4 -0.08, p 60) suggestive of NAFLD. n-3PUFA status was significantly lower in participants with NAFLD compared to those NAFLD (p < 0.05). A significant inverse relationship was found between n-3PUFA status and FLI (r 1⁄4 -0.153; p < 0.001). Sex differences were evident, with women but not men showing a significant association between n-3PUFA status and FLI (r 1⁄4 -0.192; p < 0.015). Conclusions: This study demonstrated a sex-dependent inverse relationship between n-3PUFA status and NAFLD in an older population, paving the way for an n-3PUFA intervention trial in this high risk age group. Funding source(s): ARC. BASELINE OMEGA-3 INDEX CORRELATES WITH AGGRESSIVE AND ATTENTION DEFICIT BEHAVIOURS IN ADULT PRISONERS B.J. Meyer , M.K. Byrne , C. Collier , N. Parletta , D. Crawford , P.C. Winberg , D. Webster , K. Chapman , G. Thomas , J. Dally , M. Batterham , I. Farquhar , L. Grant . 1 School of Medicine, University of Wollongong (UOW), NSW, Australia; 2 School of Psychology, UOW, NSW, Australia; 3 South Coast Correctional Centre, Nowra, NSW, Australia; 4 School of Population Health, University of South Australia, Australia; Venus Shell Systems, NSW, Australia; 6 Statistical Consulting Service, UOW, Australia; NSW Department of Corrective Services, Australia E-mail: bmeyer@uow.edu.au (B.J. Meyer) Background/Aims: There is no published data on the omega-3 index in prison populations in relation to mental health. We aim to determine if the variance of the baseline omega-3 index is correlated with aggressive and attention deficit behaviours in a prison population. Methods: One hundred and thirty six adult male prisoners were recruited from South Coast Correctional Centre (SCCC), NSW Australia. A 7-point categorisation was used to quantify levels of aggressive behaviour (four weeks) from individual SCCC case notes, whereby higher scores correspond to increasingly aggressive behaviour. At baseline, study participants completed an Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) and the Brown’s Attention Deficit Disorder Scales (BADDS), provided a blood sample for erythrocyte fatty acid analysis using GC and the omega-3 index was calculated. Results: The baseline omega-3 index ranged from 2.3% to 10.3% with a median of 4.7%, indicating that some participants already had substantial omega-3 intake. Assessment of aggressive and attention deficit behaviour shows that there were negative correlations between baseline omega-3 index and baseline aggression categorisation scores (r 1⁄4 0.21, p 1⁄4 0.016); total AQ score (r 1⁄4 0.234, p 1⁄4 0.011); Anger (r 1⁄4 0.222, p 1⁄4 0.016); Hostility AQ (r 1⁄4 0.239, p 1⁄4 0.009); indirect aggression (r 1⁄4 0.188 p 1⁄4 0.042); total BADDS (r 1⁄4 0.263, p 1⁄4 0.005); Activation (r 1⁄4 0.224, p 1⁄4 0.016); Attention (r 1⁄4 0.192, p 1⁄4 0.043); Effort (r 1⁄4 0.253, p 1⁄4 0.007); Affect (r 1⁄4 0.330, p < 0.001) and Memory (r 1⁄4 0.240, p 1⁄4 0.010). Conclusions: There is a high variability on baseline omega-3 status of a NSW prison population, and inmates with lower omega-3 index were more aggressive and had higher ADD scores. Funding source(s): UOW, NSW Department of Corrective Services. DISTINGUISHING THE NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL FATE OF DIETARY EPA AND DHA IN ATLANTIC SALMON G.M. Turchini , J.A. Emery , J. Trushenski , F. Norambuena . 1 School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, VIC, Australia; Center for Fisheries Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Southern Illinois University